Be Kind To Your Mind is a 5-day Bible plan on mental wellness. With a transparent approach, we provide practical tools, scriptural references and encouragement for readers struggling with their mental wellness. We pray this short devotional gives you hope, tools, and faith on your journey towards mental wellness.
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Day 1
Scriptures: Psalms 34:17, Matthew 7:8
Share How You Feel
When we come to Jesus, he’s ready to help us. He’s ready for the REAL us. He’s able to address how we feel— big or small. Nothing is too dark, bad, or scary for Jesus. His goal is to address us and renew our minds. If we sin, he will allow us to repent and be restored. If it’s tiredness and weariness, he will give us rest. Whatever we need, Jesus is willing to give.
Sharing how we feel is the starting point to getting help. When we withhold how we feel, it can be harmful in the long run. Repressed feelings are stored in our mind and life’s circumstances can cause emotions to surface. This can happen in the form of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, burnout, etcetera.
Dealing with emotions can be difficult, and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I’ve been there. During those times, it is important to share those emotions with God and others. We need to share our thoughts and feelings in the moment even if we think they are invalid. Here’s why: It allows us to be authentic, and as a result, we find the answer(s) or relief we need. If the shared thoughts and feelings are invalid, they can be corrected. If they are accurate, they can be comforted and helped. Either way, we receive what is needed in the moment.
To start a journey of getting well, we have to be willing to accept help. When we accept God’s goodness and the goodness of our community (friends/family/church), we allow love to cover our sins and drive out fear. To experience this love, we have to speak up.
When burnout caused me to suffer mentally, fear caused me to withhold all my thoughts and feelings. As a result, things became worse, my thoughts got loud, and symptoms spiked. After suffering in silence for weeks, I sent a text to friends and family to share my experience. Immediately after, they began to show up for me in a real way. Within an hour, two friends were there to sit with me and help me through. This taught me the importance of sharing how I feel. It allowed God to show up through those who love me.
Today, remind yourself that someone loves me. I will share how I feel. I will speak up.
Day 2
Scriptures: Matthew 11:28, Galatians 6:2
Share Your Burden(s)
Community is a blessing from God and a resource for our lives. God works through relationships. When we choose to hide our burdens, we carry the weight alone. However, when we uncover our burdens and reach for help, the weight is shared. Therapists, Doctors, Friends and Family are all God’s support system for you. They are there to share the load. Accept the help with open arms. This is how God heals and lightens our burden.
We were not built to face life’s challenges alone. Choosing to share our burdens is not a sign of weakness. It is God’s will for us to share it with our community— family, friends or co-workers. This is why the Apostle Paul told the church to share our burdens. Too often, in order to maintain a façade, we keep our issues and struggle(s) to ourselves and the process toward relief is more painful.
Today, remind yourself: I was not meant to carry the weight of life alone. Sharing my burden does not make me weak. God will show up through my relationships.
Day 3
Scriptures: Matthew 6:22, John 14:27, Proverbs 4:23
Monitor Your Input
Scriptures say, “if our eyes are good, our whole body is good.” What we see and hear has an impact on us.
Recently, I learned the importance of monitoring my input. I allowed myself to be consumed with recent news. I remember taking in so much negative media and reading multiple news articles. Shortly after, I started to feel an increase in anxiety. As a result, I experienced two anxiety attacks. Looking back, I see how I started to believe I was unsafe. From this, I gathered how imperative it is to monitor what we consume and how necessary it is to give ourselves time to rest, process and pray. We cannot allow the media to minimize our faith and hope.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are promised peace that the world cannot give. In order to obtain that peace, we have to guard our heart to keep our mind safe. We have to focus on the things above and on promises of God. Peace has to be practiced. In order to keep peace, we have to make decisions that lead to peace: such as limiting television, logging off social media, reading scripture and spending quality time with those we love.
Today, remind yourself: I become what I consume; therefore, I will monitor my input. I will practice peace.
Day 4
Scriptures: 1 Timothy 4:15, Philippians 4:8
Celebrate Your Progress
My wife, family and friends are always reminding me of my progress. It’s good to ask others about your progress, so you can be encouraged to face what’s in front of you. Every ounce of encouragement is helpful, and our mind needs reassurance.
Today, take a moment to remind yourself: I am making progress. My mind and emotions are healing. My thoughts are leading me in the right direction.
Day 5
Scriptures: 2 Timothy 1:7, Colossians 3:2
Be Kind to Your Mind
Life can truly challenge our mental health. I’m still working through it as I write this. I have had to face my anxiety head-on and get the help I need. Therapy has helped me process through everything that’s happening. I have been expressing myself to friends and family. I have been journaling, writing out how I feel, reading the Bible and limiting my input. I have been in prayer and spending quiet time with God. Ultimately, I have been on a journey to increase my tools and ensure I am well.
Every day we get to decide how to show up and face life. God is willing to help us, but we have to do our part. Our mind needs to be cared for. Using tools and working toward mental wellness is a day-by-day decision. We have to pray and meditate, listen to sermons, and go to a professional, spend time alone to reflect and spend quality time with our community. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and. I pray this plan will inspire you to be kind to your mind. I hope my sharing with you will encourage you to share with others.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us peace. We ask for tools and resources to strengthen our mental health. We have been experiencing a lot and are in need of your help. Please help us process what’s happening. Please give us a sound mind and show us how to make our mental health a priority in the midst of all that’s taking place. In Jesus name we pray, amen.