What the word says about you and your mental health

What exactly is mental health? According to the world health organisation, “mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

To put it simply, experiencing mental health is tantamount to being wholly well in the mind in such a way that you can fully respond to the various demands of life and excel in every area of your life. It’s mental health day today and it can be a tricky subject, especially amongst Christians. People tend to be at opposite ends of the spectrum on this subject. Some say, mental health issues are non-existent for the Christian while others are hyper fixated on mental health to the extent that they believe God doesn't have a say when it comes to issues of the soul.

However, God created us and is omniscient, it stands to reason that He knows best about our minds, how to make them function at their optimum. In His infinite wisdom, God gave us the timeless scriptures, His very word and counsel to live by. The scriptures are filled with admonition, inspiration and exhortation about the mind and how to keep it functioning optimally.

The first thing the scripture brings to mind is that we are custodians of our minds, our minds don’t control us, we control our minds and God has given us our minds to steward and manage. Consider the following scripture, Romans 12:2 in the NIV “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” God gives us the responsibility of renewing our minds so that our lives can be transformed.

Whatever state you are in right now, there is hope for you. You can have a complete renewal of your mind and a total transformation of your life. Your mental health could be affected by genetics or your emotional skills or exposure to unfavourable external circumstances. Whatever the cause may be, the word of God has a solution and answer.

The word of God is the only tool that is sharp enough to divide and discern and get to the root and foundation of the issue in your soul and cut it out. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Over the next couple of days watch out for more insightful articles on how to improve your mental health with God’s word. For more on what God says about your mind and how to effectively harness its full power, order your copy of The Power of Your Mind by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.