The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
“Mental Health is the ability to use your brain and mind to create the life you want.” – Dr. Daniel Amen
That definition of mental health is a strong and good one. That’s a good way to describe using your most vital gifts to proactively shape your life. If you are a Jesus follower, the preeminent goal of your life must be to build the life that He has purposed for you. And that’s the best news you could receive. Jesus has better dreams for you than you have for yourself. His purpose and desire for you is that you will have a rich and satisfying life.
For life to be rich and satisfying, your mental health must be a priority. Mental health is far more than the absence of illness or disease. That only creates a bland existence that eventually devolves into a lack of health. To have mental health, you must actively participate with God to cultivate a positive mindset and skills enabling you to manage well through the inevitable difficulties of life.
God has made us uniquely and wonderfully, and our minds, body, brain, and spirits are interconnected, so taking care of your mental health impacts your overall wellbeing. Your body, your spirit, and your mind all reflect your thoughts and input. It is vital that you understand and manage your influences, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to create the life you desire, and God has made available to you.
We too often say, “Well, God is in control.” That is certainly true in that ultimately God holds all things in His hands. But He has divinely given us choice and agency. What does it mean to have agency? It means that you have the power or ability to engage with a situation rather than passively accepting it. It means you take responsibility to make capable decisions and take actions that affect what happens. Then, it means you have the maturity to assume responsibility for the outcomes.
God wants that for you! But He can’t want it more for you than you want it for yourself. Talk to Him about the things that need to change so you can get out of life what God wants you to have.
- Think about it. Are you ready to work with God to create the life you desire? Talk to Him … listen. And take notes.