Renewed Mental Health Devotions

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world

Life begins when you acknowledge that life is filled with good and bad, happy and sad, simple and complex, anger and calm, joy and melancholy; yet lives peacefully amidst these paradoxes.

Psalms 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore

Surrendering your life to God is an act of admitting that you have been defeated and want to stop fighting. Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

What does it mean to be an immovable force? It means if you build a wall of kindness no storm in this life should change you into someone unkind.
Psalms 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength,always ready to help in times of trouble.So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

Don’t let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game. Mathew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

I want to be left alone, but then I feel so lonely. Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

psychology suggests that distancing yourself from a painful experience may help you make better decisions. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever

What if everything you are going through is preparing you for what you ask for? Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan

Most people believe that they will be happier once they get what they desire. Matthew 16:26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul

Don’t allow fear to shut you down, let it wake you up! Psalms 18:29 In your strength I can crush an army, with my God I can scale a wall.

Being rested is vital to happiness in life. A person who is constantly tired misses out on important opportunities. There are many reasons why a person may wake up tired but dehydration is probably the most surprising and common reasons that people feel tired. Jeremaiah 31:26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

When planted in the right soil, given water sunlight and protection a plant that seems almost dead can be brought back to life. How much more those who are part of Gods vineyard be brought back to life if the circumstances of life has killed you on the inside. Psalms 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me

Imagine a person that can motivate you, show loving care, offer a song, poem or verse of encouragement, listen attentively, offer an embrace, and feed your soul with advice. All at the right time, I’m the right amount and in the way that will truly help you. Such a person does not exist, and we often discard valuable relationships because of unrealistic expectations. There is only one person that is like this.

Psalm 35:10 All my bones will say, “Lord, who is like You, Who delivers the afflicted from him who is too strong for him, And the afflicted and the needy from him who robs him?

James the brother of Jesus called Job A MAN OF GREAT ENDURANCE. Endurance is the ability to go through wear and tear and still complete the task at hand, to fight through your issues no matter how hopeless they may look.
James 5:11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

Self-denial prepares a person to bear with the hardships and toils of life. Some people are always striving for MORE. This can be exhausting, It is better to endure cheerfully every inconvenience and apparent lack than to loose your peace and happiness because of a desire for MORE. Sometimes you got to tell yourself: “its ok if I do not get it.”
Luke 9:23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said: The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation. It is God alone that can save us from this life of misery, pain and sickness caused by sin. And with certainty I can say HE will come and save you oh weary one. Isaiah 34:4 Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you

Havent you ever wished you could just “sit down and rest” from all your problems.
All the worries, fears, anxieties, pain, heart ache, to just sit down and rest from them all. If Jesus can set a demon possessed person free and allow him rest at His feet, he can do the same for you. Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind:

Most of us experience a mundane, boring, recurring cycle of work day in and out. This destroys the joy and hope of present day living . however when we include prayer and the Sabbaths rest into that life cycle it brings pieces of the beauty of Gods kingdom and the sacredness of eternity into every day life. It enables you to experience sacredness right now in the midst of an ordinary life. Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save...

The ever exhausting chasing after the standards of the world will leave you feeling mentally and emotionally worn out. It destroys your inner being, your inner person, you loose your soul
The continual pursuit of earthly standards will wear out your strength and sap your life from you.

Matthew 16:26 ESV For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Admitting your brokenness is better than pretending you are whole. “When you come clean about your brokenness, others catch glimpses of how the real grace of a real God works in the messy life of a real person.” - Jason Gray. VERSE: Psalm38:8 I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

Psychology teaches that the ability to correctly asses what we feel on the inside is called introception
People who are good at introception have shown to have less mental health problems.
Psalms 84:2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

The disciples were weary, but they were so glad to be once more in the presence of their Lord that they forgot their weariness. Remembering the joy of being in Gods presence makes you forget the weariness of everyday problems.

Isaiah 46:9 “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me

Pain has a strange way of giving us tunnel vision. Why did this happen to me we ask? Well that is just it... THIS is only one thing in the scope of life. So this ONE thing went wrong, what about ALL the other things in your life that has gone right?
Mathew 6:25 Is not your life not more than food? And your body more than clothes?

The greatest mask we wear, is the mask of “I am ok”. We pretend to be doing well. How will you call on the Lord to help us if you keep pretending everything ok, keep pretending difficulties don’t exist.
Psalm 50:15 Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Are you waiting for a a breakthrough in your life that seems as if it’s not coming. Be patient, tolerate delay, long-lasting problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

So while you cannot always run away from or change difficult times.
You can rise above them in our thoughts and emotions.
Colossians 3:2-3 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

Jesus had a few vision statements foe his life which kept him on track regarding his actions. What is keeping you on track? What helps you decide if you will do something or not do it? Matthew 20:28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many

Somedays you may feels like highway 401. Bombarded with half a million different kind of outward stimuli that directly effect your inward wellbeing and peace .. and it seems to never end like a 828 km highway. Psalms 116:7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you

Be daily keeping so close to God, by beholding Him every minute.
In every unexpected trial your thoughts will naturally turn to Him, as naturally as the flower turns to the sun.
Proverbs 3:25-26 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared

What makes you act on your inspirational ideas? Ever noticed some ideas you follow through into fruition others not? What makes the difference? Why do you sometimes strike while the iron is hot and other times not
Because maybe you don’t really, really, really, really want it…

Luke1.37 For nothing will be impossible with God

Your greatest ability as a human is the capacity to improve who you are. Its an ability you have above the animals. A dog cant be anything but a dog. A tree cant be anything but a tree, but
as a human being you have unlimited potential. You can put effort into you, and by concentrating and developing yourself with Gods help, you can transform your life and be anything.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Jesus only lived 33 years, and it ended on the cross, an apparent failure. Yet he said in John 17:4 I have finished the work thou gavest me to do. Living a life of quality is more precious than a long life.
It doesn’t matter wether you live another year, or two years or five years. What matters is how you spend those days.
James 4:14 What is your life it is but a vapor that appeareth for a little while and then vanishes away

When an enemy cant gain entry into your soul temple, they tend to engage psychological warfare while standing on the outside they may insult, curse and even threaten your life. This is a weak attempt to destroy you on the inside psychologically because they don’t have any real access. 2 Chronicles 32:7 be strong be courages, don’t be afraid or discouraged because of the king if Assyria or his mighty army, for there is a power far greater on our side.

Healing your soul temple starts with fixing the broken down doors. Doors are there to keep what belongs outside outside, and what belongs inside safe. Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Remember most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
If you asking “How long should you try?” The answer is. . . Until.
1 corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. .

Hope in the Christian tradition is hope because of a new state of being. Hope in the fact that you are not who you use to be. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

If your soul, inward person (your little bob) is tired, dirty, hungry, thirsty, toxic, diseased, hurt, out breath, worn out and ready collapse Gods message to you is:

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Making the conscious choice to let go of bad habits and addictions is only the first step to achieving mental health. Its going to take focus and dedication to Gods ways to stay on track, but be encouraged God will strengthen you. 2 Chronicles 16:9 the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committee to him.

The reason so many fail to break free from bad habits are: 1. Neuro-pathway formed by man made pleasures are stronger deeper than natural healthy ones
2. The pleasure trap pulls you towards bad unnatural habits/addictions
3. To break out of a habit leaves you feeling horrible for a few weeks before you feel good again.
Mathew 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few

Like a mot to a flame, our brains natural instinct is to go for whatever gives it the most pleasure. Irrespective of the negative consequences that may follow. Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Apathy is a trap. There is no challenge... so there is no real reward. Remember, there is always free cheese in a mousetrap.- Steve Maraboli 1 John 2:16 ESV For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world

Satan has many ways of breaking you down mentally, however God has many more ways to build you up mentally and restore to you that which was lost.

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart (mind) for everything you do flows from it.

Neuroscience has proven that social neglect cam cause damage to the brains of adults as well as children. However as children of God even if we find ourselves tested by social neglect and hardship we find social healing in God as our father, Jesus as our brother and the Holy Spirit as our constant companion. John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Social grief like death or a break up can cause a disruption in hormonal balances that results in specific symptoms, such as disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, fatigue and anxiety, which in turn can be a hit for depression. Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him (he didn’t say its not nice, not good- socially, mentally?)

One of the key characteristics of depression is the lowering of your mood. This can happen when you have an off day, when you are grieving, or if you are clinically depressed. It is important to identify what is causing the decline in your mood. Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind

As economies are falling and times are getting tougher financially, many of us may be experiencing a want of physical food. And if we are also hungering inwardly and not being spiritually nourished these physical wants many be come overwhelming and too heavy a burden to bear. John 4:31-32 Teacher, have something to eat! But he answered, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

Feeling beautiful has nothing to do with what you look like. Confidence is the only key. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be themselves.
1 Samuel 16:7 Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

There is a bitter sweet truth that every Christian must face and that is that the path of life only gets harder as we approach the end, but the sweet truth is the more we lean on Jesus the less we have to do to stay on the path for He becomes our path, our full dependance. Mat 7: 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it