Are you paying attention to your mental health? And what does it have to do with the Bible?
For many, knowing the presence of God, that He loves us and will be there when we are in desperate need of help is a viable way to feel sane in a crazy world, where the pace of life and the plethora of stimulation is difficult to escape.
We know that Jesus retreated to a quiet place to pray to the Father. He found peace and tranquility away from the crowds that gathered around him wherever he went.
The message to be conveyed today is that more than ever we need to look after our mental health. It needs to be incorporated into a daily routine. As we focus on diet and exercise in order to be healthy we also need to maintain a daily focus on our mental health, so our day and our thinking is not wrapped up in the addictive nature of consumerism where we are bombarded with WANTING things. The more we want the less satisfaction we obtain because “things” are never enough. We need to be observant and appreciate what we already have. Thank God for everything He has given us.
The Bible is a great tool to utilise for tending to our mental health. We can find bible passages to exemplify this. Jesus regularly took time out from his ministry to de-stress.
“Now in the morning …before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed.” MARK 1:35
He decreased his physical stress by going for a walk, his mental stress by being alone to think, and his spiritual stress by praying to nourish his spirit.
If you have anxiety you can read PHILIPPEANS 4:6,7 and MATTHEW 6:25,26. There is much in the Bible to assist with living a peaceful life.
We need spiritual food to nourish our souls. God is already with us wherever we go. If we remember that He is available to us all the time and is our best friend, then we know we have someone who is always reliable, dependable, generous and loving. When there is no one else, having faith in God at the forefront of our consciousness, is all we need to get through the tough times. The word and example was set by the Lord: to walk in His ways, to speak and act in righteousness, to be generous in spirit, have compassion, and to gather together in community to help one another. This is good for our mental health.
It is useful to incorporate mental health activities into our daily routine:
. exercise – as simple as going for a walk
. nature – solitude for
evaluating and positive thinking
. prayer – spiritual sustenance
and peace.
Other actions we can take to look after our mental health include;
. meditation
. positive thinking
. counselling
. reading books
. being around positive people
. being in a support group
. being involved in community
activities
. doing things that give you
pleasure e.g.. hobbies, sport
etc
. volunteering
If you are struggling and need extra support there are information and help lines to call: In Australia:
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Lifeline 13 11 14
Anxiety Disorders Association 03 9853 8089 (Wed – Frid 10.30 to 4pm AEST
Head Space 03 9027 0100
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Mens Line Australia 1300 789 978
REFERENCES:
The Bible: The New King James Version
Meditation by Domyo Sater Burk
Notes On A Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
Bobby Schuller – Hour of Power on Channel 10 weekly Sundays 5am
Written by Carmen Verne
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