OPENING STATEMENT: God cares about your mental health so much that He sent His Son to purchase your mental freedom.

OPENING SCRIPTURE:
YOU will keep in PERFECT PEACE those whose MINDS are STEADFAST, because they TRUST IN YOU. (Isaiah 26:3 NIV)

We can steady our minds against racing thoughts, negative thinking, and overwhelming emotions. The battle for our lives won or lost in our minds.
Mental Awareness from God’s word:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT)

#1: WE ARE AT WAR

– We are human, but we don’t wage WAR as humans do (2 Corinthians 10:3 NLT)
-It is not a physical one but a spiritual one and our minds are that battlefield.
– Your thoughts if they are not harnessed will develop an appetite. Your thoughts will lead to action.
– Cognitive Behavior of people: many problems from eating disorders, relational challenges, addictions, depressions, anxiety are all rooted in faulty, negative pattern of thinking.

Science in agreement with God’s word – Proverbs 4:23

“Be careful HOW YOU THINK; YOUR LIFE IS SHAPED BY YOUR THOUGHTS. (Proverbs 4:23 Today’s English Version)

#2 BEWARE OF STRONGHOLDS

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the STRONGHOLDS of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT)

• What is a stronghold? In military terms a stronghold is the enemy’s hiding place.
• Strongholds in our minds as: human reasoning and false arguments.
• Believe the lies of the enemy long enough and you give the enemy a blueprint to act upon.
• God has given us mighty weapons to knock down those strongholds.

#1: WEAPON: PRAISE AND WORSHIP

When racing thoughts, negative thoughts, overwhelming emotions are trying to overpower you, praise and worship are your reset.

“He inhabits the PRAISES of His people” (Psalm 22:3)

• Praise and worship: God’s invitation that He is welcomed to come in!
• Praise pushes back the walls of darkness and brings down those toxic thoughts before they build a stronghold in your mind.

#2: WEAPON: THE WORD

“For the WORD OF GOD is ALIVE and POWERFUL. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12, NLT)

• You don’t have to take ownership over every thought that comes in your mind. God has given us a mighty and powerful weapon: His Word

ANXIETY IN THE HEART of man causes DEPRESSION, But A GOOD WORD makes it GLAD. (Proverbs 12:25 NKJ)

#3 WEAPON: PRAYER

“The earnest PRAYER of a righteous person has GREAT POWER and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16 NLT)

• Prayer is an invitation to have a chat with God.

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?