Healing of the Mind

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 NKJV

God is always thinking about you, every minute of every day and every night. His thoughts are loving because God is love. He simply loves you all the time.

You can calm your nerves by saying this to yourself often, out loud or in your mental self talk.

“God is always thinking about me, every minute of every day and every night. His thoughts are loving because God is love. He simply loves me all the time.”

But isn’t it a bit strange to talk to yourself? 

That is a complete misunderstanding of the human mind. We all think all the time. Sometimes we think clearly or even obsessively in words, but often there is a quiet murmur going on subconsciously. If we decide to listen to our own thoughts, this becomes clear.

If you feel worried or angry or afraid, there are thoughts going on in your head. Sometimes these thoughts take the form of words but often they are visual images. Sometimes our brain talks and sometimes our brain sees or imagines things.

Before he created the world, he saw what he was creating in his mind. Then he spoke and everything came into being. Everything includes you and me.

How can you learn to think positively, to think thoughts of faith, hope and love?

Reading and meditating on bible texts is a very good way. God’s thoughts are better than our thoughts.

But reciting a whole verse or a whole sentence can sometimes distract you from the business of daily living, although there are times when we must lay aside our daily activity and focus on God and his words.

Memorising and reciting Bible texts can heal your mind, but in the midst of daily activities we need to simplify biblical thoughts. Keep it short and simple.

God is thinking about me.
God loves me.
God has the answer to this.
Patience and kindness.
Mercy and peace.
Keep hoping.

When someone upsets you, “God loves (him or her).”

In the Bible, God tells us to remember his blessings.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Ps 103:2 NKJV

If we don't want to forget the blessings of God, we need to think about them deliberately, to remember good things we have experienced, to see again in our minds what God has done, to thank Him in words and tell other people about them.

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Ps 9:1 NIV

To make this work, we must be constantly reminding ourselves of God’s goodness.

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. Rom 12:2 NIV

Concentrate on God and Expect His Help

What is dominating your thinking? Your illness or God's healing?
Where do you direct your thoughts? Your fears, or God's saving love?

A scientist in the USA studied HIV AIDS patients for four years.
Patients who believed in God's love recovered significantly better.
Patients who believed that God loved them personally recovered much better.

When you are in distress, you will experience a battle in your mind.
On one side is faith, hope and the love of God.
On the other side, fears and doubts keep popping up.

That is normal.

But God has given you free will. Where will you focus your attention?

We can fail or overcome in all areas of life. Life is just like that.

A sports psychologist was invited to help professional footballers. He wanted to teach and strongly emphasise the principle of concentration. In football, as in all areas of life, concentration is essential for success. Distraction is the enemy.

The psychologist placed a large football trophy on a table in front of the team. He said they had to keep their eyes on the cup for seven minutes.

They started looking at the trophy and the psychologist reminded them not to give in to distractions, not to look at their friends, not to look at the laptop on the table, etc.

The only professional footballer who looked at the trophy for seven minutes straight was the superstar of the team.

The other footballers glanced here and there, at their friends, at the laptop, etc.

What did the football champion do differently from his team-mates?

He looked at the inscription on the trophy. He read the inscription over and over again and systematically stored the words in his memory.

Do you need healing from cancer or depression? Perhaps liberation from porn?
Where do you direct your gaze on the screen of your mind?

When Joshua was to lead the Hebrews into the Promised Land, he received these instructions from God.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Jos 1:8 NIV

And what did Joshua say to the Hebrews?

“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Jos 1:13 NIV

Your thoughts determine the direction of your life.

How can you control your thoughts?

You must realise that your thoughts and feelings do not control you. You can direct and control your thoughts.

God's promises and instructions are like the inscription on the victory trophy that God has set before you.

What is your victory trophy? Healing? Deliverance? Reconciliation with friends or family? A good job?

You can be like the football striker who focuses only on the goal and doesn't get distracted.

He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases. Ps 103:3 CSB

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11 NKJV

That's all well and good, but you and I are just weak people.

But we don't just have God's word. If Jesus is the most important person in your life, you can rely on his help. He will never let you down.

… And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt 28:20 NRSV

Remember, think about it. He is with you all the time.