Solomon tells us that “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP). God undoubtedly has a sense of humor; we need only look at some of the animals He created (it’s hard not to smile at the sight of a hippo, a monkey, or a puppy). Or think of some of the married couples you know: don’t you think God was smiling at the wedding as He looked ahead to the interaction of the wildly different personalities that will be living together?
I’m listening to Joel Osteen teaching on “Expecting the Best.” He’s talking about the difference between faith and fear and our perspective. He quoted 2 Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This is a scripture I’ve spoken over myself a lot because of my struggles with fearful thinking. But Osteen made a point I had never considered before.
He says that the Amplified Bible explains “sound mind” as “a well-balanced and disciplined mind.” Osteen makes this point: “In other words, we’re not going to have any power if we don’t first know how to discipline our mind. We’re not going to live in victory if we don’t know how to control our thought life.”
I’m convicted: I see that lately I’ve been surprised when I feel good all day. I’ve been sick off and on for about 2 months, and I’ve come to expect that I won’t feel good. This is exactly the kind of thing Osteen is talking about—I’ve allowed my thinking and expectations to go the wrong way.
I’m reminded of a song that Michele Wagner sang years ago; it says, “Why be surprised? God has promised good things to those He loves. He keeps His word to you.” So why am I surprised when I feel healthy and well all day?
Bottom line, I don’t have a “sound mind” in this area. I do fairly well in taking fearful thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), and that’s good; it’s a big step forward for me given my history of fearful thinking. Catching and rejecting the negative thoughts is important, but there’s another part to this discipline. I’ve got to also take in positive thoughts.
As I look back at the Amplified, I see that a sound mind is “well-balanced.” This makes me think of eating and a well-balanced diet. About six weeks ago, I gave up sugary foods: no desserts, no candy, nothing with a high sugar content. That’s all good, because I’ve cut out a huge source of problems in my diet. But there’s something else I have to do to bring my diet into balance. I have to add in good foods — -fruits, vegetables, and so forth. Likewise, with my thinking, I’ve done only half the job in capturing negative thoughts. I’ve also got to think and speak positive words over myself and my health.
- filed in living the life
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Reflections on a Christ-centered, grace-filled life. Writer and teacher Dan Butcher's blog takes an eclectic approach to faith.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.