Today I read something disturbing on Facebook. I related to the post and understood where the person was coming from with the post, but I also understood that it was wrong. To paraphrase, the person stated that we shouldn’t be getting upset when we see people out shopping (during this “pandemic”) because we don’t know what that person is going through. Maybe they have a mental health issue to deal with and they need to keep busy with projects to distract their minds – like crafts, and home repairs. And, it ended with #mentalhealthfirst People were thanking the person for the post, including a woman who had recently lost her spouse, which my heart went out to her, but staying busy is not the answer. God is the answer.
#mentalhealthfirst stood out to me in bold letters because it is sooo wrong. It’s #GodFirst and then you won’t have mental health issues to deal with. Stay focused. Stay with God. Stay on the Path. Stay constant in prayer. Stay faithful. He brought Job out and he’ll bring you out.
Ephesians 2 One in Christ
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[e] the Spirit.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
2 Timothy 1:7
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction
2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
When we divulge in sinful activities, we give up the peace that God gives us. This includes, not putting God first. He alone is worthy of the No. 1 position in our lives.
Isaiah 57:20-21
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
No Rest for The Wicked. The wicked are those that have turned their faces on God. And maybe you don’t think you have. Maybe you consider yourself a holy person, a child of God. But if you are turning to anything else besides him to solve your problems, you are turning your face away.
I know first hand. I struggle with anxiety and panic disorder and I’m working with The Lord to bring me through it. I know better now. I turned to everything to fix my problems – cigarettes, alcohol, the advice of every Tom, Dick, and Harry – but not God. Although, I’ve always been a believer, I never prayed or asked him. So, you know what he did, he gave me something I can’t fix with a bandaid, my own way. He struck me with autoimmune disease and Fibromyalgia. Guess what? Now, I had to turn to Him because no one can fix that, not even the doctors. I don’t know when He’ll release me, but I’m trying to walk the best path I can and I feel he will when I’m where He needs me to be and I’ve done what He wants me to do. He’ll take my panic (which is not from God!, and my pain away). I’ve never lost faith, not a single day in my entire journey, but I lost my way before becoming closer to Him. I fell away because I put other people first, before Him, and suffered greatly for it and had to find my way back to Him. But, when I did, it was 10 fold. I went through the very thing that disgusted me in order to come out a better child of God. And, I learned very well why Our Father says to put no one above Him, no one. Not your mom, not your dad, not your siblings, not your spouse, not your friends. There is a reason for that. Man can lead you astray through their own demons, but if you keep God first, you won’t get trapped on the demonic snares.
Matthew 10:38-39
“And anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
I don’t lie in bed all day long crying over all the pain my body is in. I get up and I follow Him. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! I fall short of His glory every single day. I get trapped in snares all the time, but I recognize them and I learn from them each time. You must give up “your life”, living the way you think you should live and do it for Him and for Yourself and you will find life with Him.
Nothing comes first, except God. Nothing.
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Seek Him! There you will find wisdom, knowledge, understanding, a sound mind, and peace.
Matthew 22:37-40
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.'”
Nothing God says is a waste of breathe. He says with all your mind, with all your mind – for a reason. So nothing else gets in there, especially not the spirit of heaviness.
Isaiah 61:3
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”
Nothing will fix your mind and bring you that peace, but God. Not crafts, not housework, not home repairs, not drugs, not alcohol, not cigarettes, not talking with friends… only God. So, no. Not #mentalhealthfirst. #GodFirst. And then God will bring you peace. He is our great physician, restorer, redeemer, healer.
Repent, Open Your Heart, and Pray, Pray, Pray.
Exodus 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-1816 Rejoice evermore.17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
“The Enemy Tried to Limit Your Praying Because He Knows Your Praying Will Limit Him.”