Momentum For Monday, September 30th 2024

“In your life together, think the way Christ Jesus thought.” (Philippians 2:5)

I'll attempt to hit a major idea today in a blog post. Truly it deserves its own book, but school doesn't allow for it (yet). But if I had a #1 tip to give any person that struggles with mental health, it would be to start with Jesus and give your life to Christ.

Now, people can be saved and struggle with mental illness. People can attend church on the regular and still struggle with mental illness. This is why many Christians or people in ministry have committed suicide (again, another subject for another day because it deserves its own complete writings).

The answer isn't religion. It isn't behavior modification to fit in at church either. Scripture encourages renewing our minds.

Renewing the mind is an inside work that God challenges you to adopt to develop new ways of thinking, which is rooted in Scripture. Paul instructs believers in Romans and Ephesians to transform their minds by changing how they think (Romans 12:2 & Ephesians 4:23). It sounds simple, but it is supernatural because without Jesus and the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot do it.

Salvation does not give you a transformed mind. It gives you eternal life that starts on the day of salvation. In addition, it also gives you the ability to transform your thinking because of the mind of Christ that is given to you upon salvation. Knowing the difference is essential. It's a cycle. We need Jesus initially because we are called to become like Jesus by renewing our minds.

Now, because thoughts and emotions are tightly woven together, changing your thinking will impact how you feel. Again, this is a process and usually takes a long time to do, though I'd never rule out a miracle. But after years of doing this, I can speak from experience.

I've already covered so much in what is supposed to be a simple post, but hopefully I kept it clear and understandable (you can always email me questions). If you struggle with your mental health, begin with Jesus. Next, read the Bible. Allow him to challenge your current thinking and teach you how to think in a new way.

“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

(2 Corinthians 3:16-18)