We live in a tsunami of stress and confusion. Daily news conferences flood us with information (or disinformation). Political organizations, churches, and families often polarize over what seem like small issues. Anxiety and loneliness consume people’s minds and hearts. Despair is written on millions of faces (if you could see behind the masks). Discouragement becomes a jailer.
IS LONG-LASTING JOY POSSIBLE?
How often do we let our minds plummet down unhealthy or unproductive paths? It is easy to spiral downward into a pit of darkness. The pit’s mud and mire are hard to escape. Is long-lasting joy even possible? Do we have to remain in the jail cell of discouragement?
BREAKING THE CHAINS OF DISCOURAGEMENT
The good news is that freedom is achievable. We have a choice! What does God have planned for His children’s minds? “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2). God wants to transform our hearts stuck in the jail of discouragement, conforming us to His image, to think as Christ thinks. As believers, “We have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes]” (1 Cor. 2:16). Because of the Holy Spirit, we can think like Jesus. We can break the chains of discouragement.
ONE THOUGHT AT A TIME
Does this seem like an overwhelming and impossible challenge? God tells us to take it one thought at a time. “We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). This requires daily, and often hourly, submission to Christ if we are to think like Him.
WHAT DO GOD’S THOUGHTS LOOK LIKE?
But what do His thoughts even look like? The Apostle Paul wrote Philippians from a prison cell. Paul’s resume included tremendous suffering. He was regularly threatened, beaten, left for dead, mocked, driven away, arrested, and imprisoned. What did Paul focus his mind on? “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). Apparently, we need a new focus.
A NEW FOCUS
How can you make this your standard? Consider what you are choosing to focus on. Our enemy wants us to dwell on negativity and everything that is wrong in this world. He wants us to spiral down the rabbit hole of hopelessness. To combat this, don’t isolate yourself from God. Immerse yourself in His Word, be honest, and confess when you go off track. God loves your honesty, even if you don’t have nice and “proper” words. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and power.
THE CHOICE
We live in a world full of choices. Make this your standard: What builds you up spiritually, mentally, and emotionally? Look for these things. Focus!!!! The Apostle Paul submitted his mind to Christ. What consumes your mind? You can break the chains, and discouragement will no longer be your jailer.
