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?