One of the much
neglected but pressing issues today in society, and the church, is in the area
of mental health. In Part 01 we defined mental health as a fully
operative cognitive skills, sense of understanding one’s gifting and limitations, an ability to
cope with stress, living a productive and fruitful life that contributes to
society. The opposite of mental health is mental illness.
Causes of mental
illness are numerous, but they have to do with personal challenges and adverse
circumstances. While some people may need medication, all who suffer can gain
wholeness through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. At the end of this article we
offer some Scriptures to meditate on.
Some Practical Solutions
On the practical side,
we suggested a balanced diet as a help to mental wholeness. Here are some other
helpful tips:
Sleep: Getting adequate sleep is important, though
experts disagree on how much is enough. It is not just the quantity, but the
quality that matters. A couple of points: try to unwind for 15-20 minutes
during the day, and then again before bedtime. Smart phone, tablets, and PCs
can stimulate the brain, so avoid using them before bedtime. If you wake up in
the middle of the night, and cannot go back to sleep after 20 minutes, get up,
do something relaxing (e.g. warm drink, reading, soothing music, etc.) for
about 20-40 minutes, and then return to bed.
Managing your ‘body
clock’ is very important, therefore go to bed around the same time, especially
if you are sleepy, and get up the same time every day, including weekends.
These proven suggestions will help you get a better night’s sleep.
As the old adage goes: Early
to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Vitamin D, Sunshine,
and Exercise: Vitamin D is
very important and it comes from sunshine and supplementation. It even builds
up a cold-and-flu resistant immune system. Have your doctor check your Vitamin
D levels. A recent study suggests that 45 minutes a week of vigorous exercise
may be all that is necessary for fitness, but if you have time, more activity
is good.
Activity: Be involved in meaningful and fulfilling
activity, be it your job, volunteer work, or ministry involvement.
Attitude: This is very important - believing for the
best, being grateful and positive, and avoid negativity and cynicism. Trust God
and let Him dominate all thoughts. Jettison all vestiges of bitterness and
un-forgiveness. Bad attitudes have a nasty way of holding back or even shipwrecking
the holder. As the late Bob Gass said: A bad attitude is like a flat tyre.
Unless you change it … you aren’t going anywhere.
Devotion &
Discipleship: We who have
come to Christ are new creation: the old passes away and the new takes its
place. However, the lack of discipleship is causing people to live far below
the Biblical standard of a Christian life. Discipleship is to follow Jesus with
all of your heart, all of the time. Only by discipleship can you gain the full
benefits of Biblical, Spirit-filled Christian living.
Your devotional life is
not optional: incorporate Bible reading, prayer, confession the Word, praise
and worship in your time with God. Meditate on Scripture promises and confess
them aloud can do wonders. Find a spiritually mature, trusted friend, and pray
with them regularly until you have your breakthrough. Finally, Scripture
meditation is very powerful; practice it regularly and you will succeed in all
you do (Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 1:2-3). All these things will bring you on the pathway
to wholeness. If you’re having trouble disciplining yourself to do these
things, again, get a trusted person to work with you.
Scriptures to Meditate On
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm
42:11
Why are you cast
down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall
yet praise him, who is the help (or health) of my countenance, and my God.
Isaiah
26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You:
because he trusts in You. 4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in YAH, the LORD,
is everlasting strength:
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives
do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Philippians
4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
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