You Can Change Your Mind
The UK is now entering the sixteenth week since the lockdown began. Many of the restrictions that have been in place during that time are gradually now being lifted as we start to take our tentative first steps into our “new normal”. Whilst the long-term economic and health impacts of this pandemic are only starting to emerge, one consistent theme appearing in news outlets around the world is the effect on our mental health. Whilst we may have little control over the economic impacts of COVID-19, we can all have influence over our own mental health and of those around us. In our new series, Sound Mind, launched this Sunday, we look at the ways in which we can guard our mental health and transform the way in which we think.
The Effects of Isolation
Without a doubt one of the hardest aspects of lockdown, particularly for those of us who’ve been blessed with continued good health, has been the effects of isolation. Being separated from our loved ones, families, friends, workplaces and our church, and being confined to our own homes, either alone or with our immediate family, has been a unique challenge for our generation. Human beings are designed for social interaction and whilst video calls on Zoom and other tools have helped, there is nothing quite like being with someone you care for face to face, even for those of us who are natural introverts.
Instead, lockdown has given us more time alone than we have ever had before and it is in these moments that we are alone with our own thoughts. In these uncertain and isolating times, our mental strength has certainly been tested and our mental character revealed.
God’s Plan for Mental Health
Every man, woman and child has been blessed by God with the ability to think for ourselves. The way in which we each think helps us to define how we see and approach the world. Oftentimes, we place limits on our minds or our minds believe the limits others in this world place upon us.
The bible teaches us in II Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. God has a plan for all aspects of our lives, including our mental health.
He can heal our minds and lead us to a new way of thinking by changing our mind-set. We will be looking at ways in which the bible shows us how we can transform our thought processes over the coming four weeks as we analyse our own thinking, removing these limits and allowing us to truly flourish as God intended us to.
Our First Sermon
Our culture today often gives us a negative perception of ourselves, of our relationships, of how we manage our finances and of our own abilities. The world often tells us “You can’t do that” and many times we believe it. We chase “Likes” on Social media and we feel worthless when our posts are not viewed in the way we hoped they might be. We live in a reactive, now culture where everything is instant so we often act on our first thought. We don’t take time out to sit and be still with God, instead we fill our waking moments looking at our phones, watching TV, playing video games or browsing the internet.
In our main scripture, Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul tells us not to “conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
When we reflect on the worldly view of ourselves, we often end up with a mind full of doubt, fear, insecurity and hopelessness. We even worry about things that haven’t happened yet and probably won’t.
God wants us to have a different mind-set! We should reflect on our thinking and not allow negative thoughts to control how we live our lives. Instead, spending time with God, aligning our thoughts with His word, and with His will for our lives, brings us a fresh perspective and brings new, innovative and creative solutions. If we invite Jesus into our minds, allow Him to work on our thoughts, He will have a restorative, renewing and transformative effect on the way we think and lead us to a place of inner peace.
Make time for God!
A transformation by definition takes time. A caterpillar doesn’t just turn into a butterfly, a seed takes time to germinate and grow into a plant and it takes time to change the way in which we think.
Life today is challenging. We are often running around, keeping ourselves busy, but spending quiet time by ourselves in solitude is essential if we are to truly alter and empower our thinking. We kid ourselves we are busy, but we can always find time –30 minutes daily TV or internet surfing equates to 11.5 waking days a year of wasted time. Jesus, despite his hectic schedule, spends time alone in reflection and prayer many times in the Gospels. If Jesus can find time to be alone with God, then we can too.
Over these next four weeks, make time in your day to invite God into your heart and mind, share your thoughts with Him and allow Him to truly transform the way in which you think.
How to watch the rest of our Sound Mind Series
Join us every Sunday at 3PM as we continue this Series. You can either join us online or in person at Transformation House, subject to ongoing review of Government Guidelines. You can find full details on how to register and attend in person on our website and we will be updating this page regularly.
Stay safe, look out for one-another and stay connected via your Connect Groups. Most important of all, grow your connection with God.
May God Bless each and every one of you in Jesus mighty name.
Robert Clark