Fortifying Your Mind
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Your mind is the ultimate battlefield of life. Proverbs 23:7 says that “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” One of the biggest battles we have to constantly struggle with is worry and stress. Dr. Charles Mayo of the famous Mayo Clinic says, “There’s a growing mountain of evidence to suggest that worry is the chief contributor to depression, nervous breakdowns, high blood pressure, heart attacks and early death. Stress kills. I’ve never known a man to die from hard work, but I’ve known a lot who died from worry.” Mathematically speaking, it doesn’t make sense to worry. Psychologists tell us that roughly 30 percent of what we worry about never happens; another 30 percent has already happened; 12 percent is about unfounded health concerns and an additional 20 percent involves “sweating over the small stuff.” That leaves only 8 percent. Think about that! We worry 92 percent of the time for no good reason at all. And if Dr. Mayo is right, it’s killing us.
What is the Bible’s answer to stress and worry? Philippians gives us four practical steps to take:
Firstly, build the wall of praise (4:4). Paul commands the believer to “rejoice in the Lord always.” The verb is in the present tense, active voice and imperative mood. That means regardless of your circumstances, you are to keep on praising and being glad in the Lord. Even when you can’t be happy about your life, learn to be happy in the Lord!
Secondly, build the wall of patience (4:5). Be gentle and patient with people. Don’t focus on how others have attacked you, hurt you or let you down. This doesn’t mean a compromise in truth or principle. What it does mean is that you have a willingness to take the back seat in favor of other people.
Thirdly, build the wall of prayer (4:6). Worry is so dangerous because it allows the mind to conceive false notions about God. Worry says, “If there is a God, He obviously doesn’t care about me and my situation.” Don’t give in to doubt. Instead, demonstrate your faith in the power of God by seeking the Lord in prayer, supplication and requests.
Fourthly, build the wall of purity (4:8). Fix your mind upon the things of God. The source for fi nding out about those things is in the Word of God. When we fill our minds with Scripture, there will be no room for evil, no room for worry, no room for fear, no room for vengeance and no room for confusion and trouble. A mind fi lled with and led by the Word of God is a stable mind.
I meditate JesusMy mind is empty,I got nothing to say.
Worrying does break a person mentally and physically. I have been worrying about things which have not happen…but it does serve as a reminder that regardless of circumstances…God will not forsake me. All i need is to trust in HIM and God will do the rest.
A very encouraging devotion. Very disappointed the last few weeks in my workplace & family. Thank God, He has planted me in this Church with a good Pastor who is always reminding us to focus & trust God and also meditating on His Words.
Upon reading Fortifying your Mind I agree our mind is a battlefield and if we allow ourselves to worry or take control of thoughts other than the Word of God we can never find true happiness. I have experienced this, as I went through some great difficulties in my life; and now I try to clear my mind immediately when I find my thoughts going to things that bring on worry, and it has helped immensely. I would like to share this with others. I am also receiving God’s blessings in abundance!
God Bless
Trish
Matt 6:27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” Indeed, worrying can never help us but rather a burden. It may seem easy to say but I still believe He will give us the strength to overcome it. Thanks Pastor for the four Ps given. Once again, I was reminded and back to my focus, rather than on my circumstances.
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I always watch your church service on TBN. thank you pastor for sharing to us a lot. God has been showing me so much, speaking to me thru the messages you give. now, God has been dealing with me about the mind. thanks, i’m learning. you’re a blessing and an encouragement to us. God bless you and use you more mightily to share God’s words.