Fix My Thoughts, Finding My Strength

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

God wants me to be healthy in every area of my life—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be strong mentally, I must focus my mind on the right things. Three things I can think about to improve my mental health.

Think about Jesus.
You’ve heard the saying, “You become what you think about most.” If I want to become more like Jesus, I have to focus my thoughts on him.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

Think about others.
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB).

This is very countercultural. Our world teaches us to think about ourselves and nobody else. But Jesus was countercultural, and when I think like him, I'll more naturally think of others.

Think about eternity.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When I start focusing on truths like that, all of my problems seem inferior compared to the glory, joy, and pleasure of the things awaiting you in eternity.

My mind is my greatest asset and also my fiercest battleground. I can ask God to help me make the choice every day to feed on his Word, free my mind of destructive thoughts, and fill my mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then I'll be well-equipped to fight the battles in my mind.

In summary:

Hebrews 12:3 reminds me to think about Jesus’ perseverance through suffering so I don’t grow weary or give up. God desires me to be healthy in every way, and a strong, healthy mind comes from focusing on the right things. To improve my mental health, I should fix my thoughts on Jesus—becoming more like Him through reflection on His example, think of others instead of just myself—embracing the selfless mindset of Christ, and think about eternity—gaining perspective and hope beyond any present struggles. By choosing daily to focus on these truths and asking God to renew my mind, I equip myself to overcome the mental battles I'll face.