I have been teaching at GHBC (and also soon in our
REvangelical podcast ministry here at DFEA) about mental health. The title of my series of messages is "Winning the Battle in Your Mind." The first message I preached focused on this passage from Isaiah, one that I love dearly and the one my wife Ashley prays for me daily.
Isaiah the prophet begins with the desired outcome and then explains in these verses how we can obtain that desired outcome of perfect peace. One definition of the Hebrew word shalom is a state of health, also prosperity, success, and deliverance. The Hebrew text literally reads, Shalom shalom. We can remain in perfect peace. How could that be possible? We must have our minds stayed on Him. The Hebrew word for "mind" is
yeser, which means "our mind-set or our way of looking at life." The Hebrew word translated "stayed" is
samak, which means maintained, firm, or undeviating. One biblical commentator writes, "This is the element within the person which is the key to the divine peace." (Motyer, J. A. (1999).
Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 20, p. 195). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
Isaiah tells us to trust in the LORD. The Hebrew word
Batuh is mentioned twice in proximity, and that is significant. This word means "to be confident." Isaiah gives the reader the key to being at peace with God, and that is trusting God; having confidence in Him. We can trust Yahweh, the eternal God of Israel who was, is, and is to come, the Almighty. We are to trust in Him forever, at all times.
Why? He is Yah (short for Yahweh); He is literally the Rock of Ages, everlasting strength. He can be relied upon.
There is never a time when you come to Him that He will not be able to give you strength. The times you feel least like leaning on the Rock are the times you need to do it most. Then wait on Him.
In Dr. Sanjay Gupta's book, Keep Sharp, he quotes Edward Wilson when he says that the most complex thing in the universe is the human brain. I differentiate between the brain (the complex physical structure inside our skulls) and the mind, which is more of who we are and how we make decisions. Of course, they are intricately related, but I do distinguish between the two.
All the battles between good and evil are waged in our minds. The decisions made in the battlefield of the mind come out in our words and actions. In other words, you and I will never say or do anything that we first do not think.
Proverbs 23:7 says,
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."
There are many things you can do to help your mind: rest, sleep, exercise, think good thoughts, avoid toxic people and their harmful words, set boundaries, get counseling, and in some cases, medication. But do you know the best weapon that will empower you to win those battles that rage in your mind? It is the Bible, the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, the gift God has given to us! In
Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted by the devil, and each time He responded by quoting the Bible!
If you are like me and you battle constantly in your mind, then I implore you to memorize God's Word, and start with today's biblical text from Isaiah. It will change your thinking, which will change your life!
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