Are You Still Sharp?
How to Know If You’ve Lost Your Edge.
Cutting edge is more than a trendy phrase, it’s a position of advantage.
Whether in business, technology, or personal development, staying on the cutting edge means being sharp, ahead, and effective.
It’s what makes the difference between momentum and stagnation, excellence and mediocrity.
But what happens when the edge is lost?
In 2 Kings 6:1 — 7, there’s a story about a servant who loses his axe head while cutting down trees.
The axe head, the tool that made his labor effective, slipped off and sank into the water.
He was left holding a handle with no power behind it.
Sounds familiar?
Maybe you’re still showing up at work, still producing, still posting, still pushing, but it feels like your power, your effectiveness, your “cutting edge” are gone.
There are times when I feel down, I don’t feel as effective as I used to and just retreat to get back myself.
This axe head story, inspired by a recent prayer on my Favourite prayer platforms — (New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations), stirred something in me: it’s time to talk about losing the edge and finding it again.
Let’s unpack what it means to have a cutting edge, how to know when you’ve lost it, and what it takes to recover it.
What Is the Cutting Edge?
The cutting edge refers to the most advanced stage of development in a field.
In business and technology, it’s synonymous with innovation, disruption, and leadership.
But on a personal level, your cutting edge is your unique advantage, your clarity, spiritual sharpness, creativity, discipline, or insight that makes your effort effective.
You can have tools, titles, and teams, but without your cutting edge, you won’t see results.
The Bible Story: When the Edge Is Lost
In 2 Kings 6:1 — 7, Elisha and the company of prophets are working to build something.
One servant, using a borrowed axe, loses the iron head in the river.
Distressed, he cries out because the tool wasn’t his.
Elisha intervenes, throws a stick into the water, and miraculously, the axe head floats.
Key truths from this story:
The edge can be lost even while doing good work.
Sometimes, what we’re using isn’t even ours: it’s borrowed grace, borrowed momentum, borrowed passion.
Recovery requires acknowledgment, humility, and divine intervention.
How Businesses and Individuals Lose Their Edge
In business, cutting edge is lost through complacency, failure to innovate, ignoring feedback, or holding onto outdated methods.
Individually, we lose our edge when we’re spiritually dry, emotionally overwhelmed, physically exhausted, or disconnected from our purpose.
You may still have the routine, the structure, even the appearance, but no results.
You suddenly feel out of place. The routine is no longer effective in helping you maintain the desired result.
For example, there were times when praying on a routine wasn't effective anymore.
I had to pause and rethink the reason why.
I invested more time in making it effective rather than letting it become a routine and chore.
Letting it become just a mere routine would only tend to it losing its effectiveness.
That’s the danger of continuing with a handle while the axe head is missing.
There are sometimes you can just keep pushing, but what’s the point of pushing without getting results?
For a result-driven person like me, it can lead to severe frustration.
Steps to Regain Your Cutting Edge
Losing your edge isn’t the end. Just like the servant recovered his tool, you can recover your sharpness.
Here’s how:
1. Recognize What You’ve Lost
Take an honest inventory.
Is it your passion? Creativity? Discipline? Intimacy with God?
Your edge is what makes you effective. You can’t recover what you don’t acknowledge is missing.
Ask yourself:
- What used to come easily but now feels hard?
- Where am I operating in autopilot with no impact?
- What area of my life feels dull or drained?
2. Return to the Source
The axe head didn’t float by accident — it was restored by a prophetic act and divine intervention. In your case, this means going back to God, your values, your purpose, and your core why.
Reignite your prayer life or spiritual practices.
Reconnect with mentors or faith communities.
Rediscover the calling behind your work.
This is where NSPPD inspiration comes in: sometimes, the sharpness you’re seeking requires a divine visitation.
Don’t underestimate the power of faith in your restoration.
3. Reevaluate and Reposition
Once you’ve identified what’s missing and returned to your source, it’s time to reposition yourself.
- Do you need a break to rest and recalibrate?
- Do you need to change direction or say no to good things to protect the best?
- Do you need to reskill or learn something new to regain relevance?
Many lose their edge trying to do everything, when sharpening only comes through focus.
4. Refresh Your Tools and Environment
Even a sharp person can be dulled by a toxic environment. Look around you:
- Are your routines life-giving or draining?
- Are the people around you sharpening or dulling you?
- Is your workspace helping or hindering your growth?
Sometimes, regaining your edge means changing the tools, systems, or settings you’ve become too comfortable with.
5. Re-engage with Fresh Intentionality
Don’t just go back to doing things the same way go back with purpose.
With your edge restored, be intentional about maintaining it:
- Schedule regular times for reflection and rest.
- Build accountability into your routines.
- Stay humble, teachable, and connected.
End Note: Guarding Your Edge
In Ecclesiastes 10:10, it says, “If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”
It’s not about working harder — it’s about staying sharp.
Your cutting edge is sacred.
It’s what makes your effort effective, your voice distinct, and your journey meaningful.
Whether you’re leading a company, serving in ministry, or raising a family, don’t lose your edge.
And if you do, know this: it can float again.
Let me know your thoughts on this post in the comments.
See a related post on this topic here
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