UN/Broken - Day 20
On my desk sits a copy of one of my favorite books, Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. If you just let the book open, it will do so with pages 72-73 showing and the pages almost falling out.
The chapter is called Growing Up Into Christ, and I often reference a quote on these pages because it speaks to my heart and my struggle so well. It’s a long quote but a powerful one. Allow me to share it.
“When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence, it is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life's cares and perplexities, and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults and imperfections—to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind. Do not be misled by his devices. Many who are conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus, by separating them from Christ, he hopes to gain the victory. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him.” (SC 71.2)
A few things to note in this chapter as it relates to our mental health and the devil's role in seeking to steal, kill, and destroy all those who reflect the image of his enemy.
First, she says it’s “Satan’s constant effort” to keep us from Jesus, to distract us from what we need most: communion with Christ. And he doesn’t care what we’re focused on as long as it’s not the source of our strength.
Second, she talks about everything we get distracted by - “pleasures of the world, life’s care, and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your faults and imperfections.”. So often the devil beats me down by filling my thoughts with any or all of these things. I become judgmental, allow myself to be filled with shame, or overwhelm me. Whatever it is, the light in my world dims, and I’m trapped in the dark.
Third, her response to fighting these things is so simple that we struggle to believe it works. She says, “Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him.” She’s not the only one to say this.
John the Baptist declared, “[Jesus] must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:30 NLT
The apostle Paul proclaimed, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” Galatians 2:20 NLT
Again, addressing our mental health struggles must be a wholistic experience (mental, spiritual, physical, emotional). Still, when it comes to the forces of darkness and the role they can play in our struggles, there is no better solution than Jesus. Talking about Jesus, singing about Jesus, finding a community that helps you see Jesus more clearly and answer His call to lovewell, all are critical in helping us live as children of light that pushes back the darkness. So, let’s talk a lot more about Jesus and help each other ward off the devil's distractions by bringing all back to the world's Savior and how he loves us.
QUESTIONS
• What things distract you right now from talking and thinking of Jesus?
• Why do you think it’s important to focus on him instead of yourself and your problems and challenges?
• It was once said, “My life begins to have a point when I am no longer the point of my life.”. What does that mean, and how might it apply to good mental health?
The chapter is called Growing Up Into Christ, and I often reference a quote on these pages because it speaks to my heart and my struggle so well. It’s a long quote but a powerful one. Allow me to share it.
“When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. Hence, it is Satan's constant effort to keep the attention diverted from the Saviour and thus prevent the union and communion of the soul with Christ. The pleasures of the world, life's cares and perplexities, and sorrows, the faults of others, or your own faults and imperfections—to any or all of these he will seek to divert the mind. Do not be misled by his devices. Many who are conscientious, and who desire to live for God, he too often leads to dwell upon their own faults and weaknesses, and thus, by separating them from Christ, he hopes to gain the victory. We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him.” (SC 71.2)
A few things to note in this chapter as it relates to our mental health and the devil's role in seeking to steal, kill, and destroy all those who reflect the image of his enemy.
First, she says it’s “Satan’s constant effort” to keep us from Jesus, to distract us from what we need most: communion with Christ. And he doesn’t care what we’re focused on as long as it’s not the source of our strength.
Second, she talks about everything we get distracted by - “pleasures of the world, life’s care, and perplexities and sorrows, the faults of others, or your faults and imperfections.”. So often the devil beats me down by filling my thoughts with any or all of these things. I become judgmental, allow myself to be filled with shame, or overwhelm me. Whatever it is, the light in my world dims, and I’m trapped in the dark.
Third, her response to fighting these things is so simple that we struggle to believe it works. She says, “Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him.” She’s not the only one to say this.
John the Baptist declared, “[Jesus] must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:30 NLT
The apostle Paul proclaimed, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” Galatians 2:20 NLT
Again, addressing our mental health struggles must be a wholistic experience (mental, spiritual, physical, emotional). Still, when it comes to the forces of darkness and the role they can play in our struggles, there is no better solution than Jesus. Talking about Jesus, singing about Jesus, finding a community that helps you see Jesus more clearly and answer His call to lovewell, all are critical in helping us live as children of light that pushes back the darkness. So, let’s talk a lot more about Jesus and help each other ward off the devil's distractions by bringing all back to the world's Savior and how he loves us.
QUESTIONS
• What things distract you right now from talking and thinking of Jesus?
• Why do you think it’s important to focus on him instead of yourself and your problems and challenges?
• It was once said, “My life begins to have a point when I am no longer the point of my life.”. What does that mean, and how might it apply to good mental health?
By Pastor Paddy McCoy
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