Second Corinthians 5:15 says, “And He (Jesus) died for all, that those who live should not from now on live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” And to that, I shout a resounding AMEN! We were not created to live for ourselves, nor were we created to have this constant monologue in our minds about ourselves.
James 3:16 says, “For where there is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.” Jesus said, “This is My commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Right before those words, He said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:10-11).
There is much joy to be had when we lay ourselves aside to love others. When we selflessly consider others more important than ourselves.
I’d like to share one last thought on mental illness: I understand that mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, have a chemical component to them, but I also know that our God is Creator of all—Creator of our bodies, minds and souls. He is the One who constructed our chemical composition and is fully able to bring it back into balance. That is not to say people should not seek medical attention. There may be a time and place for that.
Still, all it takes is a word from God, and we will be made well.
I also believe God calls us to do the Word of God, and when we do, things begin to happen. We change, we grow and we are made well. We cannot think ourselves well. Only God can heal, but I do believe our thought lives are the greatest contributor to mental health, not only for those who have experienced mental illness, but for every one of us. We all need right thinking. And so I encourage you today to commit yourself to learning and practicing the discipline of managing your thought life by the power of the Spirit. And I am fully convinced that, if you do so, your life will never be the same. {eoa}
Any thoughts? Share in the comments or join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook.
*This article first appeared on iBelieve.com.
*Please note: I am not a mental health professional. I cannot attest to the reality of mental health from a medical perspective. This article relays my experience and is in no way to be considered medical advice.
In 2010, Laurie Coombs was called to forgive the man who murdered her father. What happened as a result of that journey is chronicled in her book, Letters from My Father’s Murderer (Kregel, 2015). She blogs at LaurieCoombs.org and is a regular writer for iBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com. Coombs and her husband, Travis, make their home in Nevada along with their two daughters and are in the process of adopting from Ethiopia.
Coombs can also be found on Facebook (lauriecoombs), Twitter (lauriecoombs) and Pinterest (laurieacoombs).
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