What the Spirit Needs

With today’s commonly busy and competitive lifestyles, it’s easy to get wrapped up in multiple schedules, making money, and working to move up the ranks. While many people may readily agree that keeping physically and mentally healthy are important, there is a tendency to ignore the spirit we hold inside. Perhaps the spirit is often ignored due to its intangible nature, or we may hold wrongly preconceived notions that our spirit’s needs are irrational or immature. Therefore, we may simply dismiss the importance of keeping a healthy spirit within us.

The spirit is the backbone of what keeps us motivated. The spirit doesn’t care about money or external rewards - the spirit runs deeper than that. It may manifest itself in what we call our “gut instinct” and it’s also responsible for keeping our dreams alive. The spirit runs on a zest for life. It’s also referred to as our “inner child”. However, the spirit is not immature but wise enough to know that the most important things in life are deeper than a big paycheck, a fast car, or an attractive partner.

Perhaps we call our spirit the “inner child” because it doesn’t seem to care about “adult things.” However, perhaps society as a whole has created a skewed understanding of what being in adult entails. Why has working long hours and working at jobs we hate become something seen as responsible. Yes, it’s important to make money to provide for our families, however, we need to take into account the benefits of passion compared to a larger paycheck.

If a higher paycheck comes at the cost of decreased mental, physical, or spiritual health – then what have we really gained? If we make more money but are mentally repressed and resentful because of our duty to provide, then are we really doing what’s best for our families or ourselves?

Most of us have heard the questions, “If you could do anything, and didn’t have to worry about money, then what would you do?” The answer is then: “Do whatever that is.” If you believe that life has a reason and that God will take care of you, then really live that out. God doesn’t just show up in one part of our life and then leave us out to dry in other areas. He’s given us unique and special talents to contribute and make life a wonderful experience.

Talents aren’t given to be repressed and life isn’t meant to be “played safe.” We have a duty to be responsible, but we also have a duty to honor God with our given talents. Children need parents who are good examples. Our spirits come alive when we engage in doing what we care about. Children aren’t going to resonate with someone whose spirit is dwindling inside due to a lack of fully engaging in life or trusting in God to provide.

Life is awesome, fun, and lived fullest when God is trusted fully.

Matthew 6:28-30 (NLT) – “28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Enjoy life ~ At the end of it all, the time you spent with loved ones will far outweigh how much money you earned. For further related reading, please check out: Every Day is a Celebration.