Healing: Renewing the Mind
As a teenager, I had allowed circumstances in my life to propel me into an abusive relationship. In this relationship, I was manipulated, belittled, and made to feel like the abuse was my fault. By God's grace, I got away from the situation. However, it left me defeated and broken. My physical wounds healed quickly, but the mental wounds required a time of renewing. Gently, I bound up my wounds with God's Word, and they slowly healed over time.
Not all mental wounds come from abusive relationships. Many times, we repeatedly hear negative messages and we begin to believe them. These messages could come from parents, someone we love, so-called friends, or even ourselves. The sayings that continuously looped in my mind were, “This is all your fault.” “You’re worthless.” “No one will ever love you.” I found a wonderful Christian counselor to help me through the healing process. However, I ran to the Lord daily resting in His promise of Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
How did God bind up my wounds? Through His Word. Scripture reminds us who we truly are in Him. As believers in Christ, we are daughters of the Most High King (2 Corinthians 6:18). He loves us unconditionally (Romans 8:38-39). We are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1). These are only a few of the many Bible verses I placed on scripture cards next to my bed. I would read them before falling asleep and when I woke up. I also placed scripture on my bathroom mirror and in the car. I did this until the old messages were replaced with God’s truth.
Along with meditating on God’s Word, I had to “… take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5 HCSB). When the negative thoughts came, I shut them down. By knowing scripture, I was ready when the negative thoughts popped into my mind. I fought back with the sword of truth that told me who I was in Christ and reminded me how much God loved me. Once my mind was focused, I tried to not allow my mind to wander. Philippians 4:8 specifically told me to think on, “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise…” When my thoughts didn’t measure up to these things, I would shut it down.
Over time, my mind healed. The battles became less and less as I daily abided in God’s truth. Occasionally, the old thoughts still pop up, but I immediately stop them and remind myself whose I am and that God loves me unconditionally.
Question For Reflection: Do you battle with negative thoughts about yourself? If so, allow God to gently bind up your wounded mind with His Word. If needed, find a Christian counselor to help you through the process. Remember Psalm 34:18, He is, “near the broken hearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.”
