Mental Pressures
Good Morning,
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
vs. 9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
I was talking with a very good pastor friend, and he mentioned the mental struggle he faced. I feel like we all face that, some more than others, but all, at least, to some extent. This good man with a good family, good kids, and apparently, a good marriage wondered about success, being useful to God and other things.
I was slow to respond, but offered him a few thoughts that helped me, and I thought perhaps they would benefit some of you too.
We must understand that we are in a spiritual battle, and most of it is in our thoughts. Purposely controlling what we think about is a huge step in gaining victory.
1. Count your blessings.
Look up for a roof over your head, look in the cupboards for food, and then slowly take stock. Is there a car out front? Are you saved? Do you have a good church? Do you have a Bible? Are you free? Do you have your hands and feet. Cultivate gratitude.
2. Focus your attention on "doing" the will of God more than the results of your work. Some of the greatest inventors and missionaries found little success until many years of faithful work had passed. Success is doing the will of God, not achieving an earthly goal or attaining financial or spiritual success. It may be that God planned on a family having no children or no spouse. It may be that enduring a lifetime of health issues is the will of God. None of us want that plan for our lives, but we all understand that this could be the case. As long as the "do" is right, the results can be left in the hands of God.
3. Focus on influencing one person, whether it be a baby in the nursery, a child in Sunday school, or visiting a lonely neighbor. Helping one person can change the world. It was one mechanic who invited a few teenagers to his home after church because there was nothing going on for the youth in their church. He taught them to witness. One of those teens led me to Christ in the city park.
4. Work hard at knowing God; study your Bible, develop a prayer life, get prayer lists, and read good biographies of godly men and women so you learn the secretes of their spiritual lives. If you need names of people to read, here are a few:
• William Carey - went to India and translated the Bible into many languages.
• David Livingstone - explored Africa.
• Amy Carmichael - rescued children from temple prostitution in India.
• Jim Elliot and Nate Saint
• Mary Slessor - reached into the interior of Calabar.
• Adoniram and Ann Judson
• Hudson Taylor - built the great China Inland Missions
• John and Betty Stam - missionaries to China
• Gladys Aylward - missionary to China
• Jonathan and Roslind Goforth - missionaries to China
These are all missionaries, but their lives will help us all understand faith, suffering, purpose, and godliness.
Pastor