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.