This multi-part series was originally published in 2008 by Alea under a strong urgency to point people, even His church, to Him and Him alone in the ever increasing times that further “fill, distort and distract” us from the only Source of Hope, Help and Salvation, Jesus Christ. He is coming soon and we need to be ready and prepared…
Father God, please open our eyes and ears, soften our hearts and minds, change and help us to choose wisely, to know Your ways and live them. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Mental Preparedness
Just the Facts
Our will to live has a direct effect on our survivability. Even trained survival experts may feel the crushing effect of the psychological strain during duress. It serves as a measuring stick for our success, it presents us with challenges, and it’s a good way to show us how far we can bend and not break. Stress sometimes has a nice way of pointing out that things could indeed be much worse. On the flip side of the coin too much stress can be an awful thing. The carnage that stress can breed within a human being is almost without limits. Too much stress can lead to forgetfulness, increased propensity to making mistakes, lessened energy, outbursts of rage, and carelessness. Emotions are hard wired into our brains. Survival situations are bound to invoke strong emotional reactions from anyone evolved. Below are a few common emotions that can drastically lessen our ability to combat situations. It’s not something that initially comes to mind when thinking of surviving but they are as important as any other survival skill.
There are 7 emotions that must be overcome to allow a chance at survival:
Fear - Once placed into a survival situation one of the initial reactions for anyone is fear. It is a perfectly normal reaction however fear is the enemy. It drastically lessens our ability to make clear decisions, which ultimately will lessen the chance for survival. In an effort to minimize our fears, we can train in realistic situations to condition ourselves to have the mentality needed to increase our confidence and more effectively manage fear.
Anxiety – Typically anxiety and fear run hand in hand with one another. It may start as an uneasy feeling in the pit of our stomach but by the time the mind is added into the situation it may quickly spiral out of control. Anxiety will often take over the mind and quickly make it difficult to make rational decisions. Anxiety must be fought through in order to focus on the tasks at hand. Typically, once some of the critical survival needs have been met, anxiety will be easier to keep at bay.
Panic - If fear and anxiety are left unchecked, Panic will set in. Panic will lead to impulse actions and loss of self control. It could turn deadly as rationality is lost.
Anger – It is inevitable that in a survival situation there are going to be problems. With the endless possibilities of things that can go wrong and probably will to imagine that tempers may flair should not come as a surprise. Anger can sap one’s drive necessary to want to survive. Finding other ways to channel this emotion will prove more useful than losing one’s temper.
Depression – An overall sense of malaise is not uncommon. Being alone trying to survive almost certainly brings about a depressed state. Overwhelming depression can lead to the body shutting down and not unlike anxiety can also cause a human being to give up hope. Staying positive can allow one to combat this.
Guilt – Often accompanying life situations is loss of life. The guilt may not even come from someone taking responsibility for the person’s death, rather a sense of guilt as they are alive and the other person is dead.
Boredom & Loneliness – An often unanticipated side affect of being in a survival situation. Boredom or loneliness can both contribute to lowering morale. It’s important to be able to keep the mind busy and spirits up. It may be one of the most critical skills to survive.
Revealed in the Source
Being mentally prepared to deal with what life brings our way is important. Keeping the right frame of mind by properly responding to our own emotions isn’t always easy. Life often presents itself with difficulty. In fact, stress weaves in and out of our lives throughout our existence. Many of us have suffered traumatic experiences that have had a significant impact on the way we live and perceive life. One of the most incredible gifts we’ve been given is the freedom to choose. With choice comes the ability to use our minds, emotions, hearts, wills and bodies for life or death. We all deal with the emotions listed above and can feel helpless, hopeless, overwhelmed, confused and lost. We don’t need emergency situations to bring these emotions forward. However, we need to remember that we have a choice, are we are going to be reactive or proactive?
God doesn’t want us bound by our emotions or not knowing what to do. He speaks to every stressed area we have in Scripture. For example, He speaks to fears in His Word in Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee.” and in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” In Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26-27 we find instruction regarding anger as we read, “Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.” Jesus gave us comfort with His words in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” When feeling overwhelmed a great passage is Psalm 61:2-3, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Many of the Psalms are filled with words expressing our human emotions and uncover the greatness and provision of God in the midst of the trials of life. God can relate to our duress and doesn’t look down or enjoy seeing us hurting or feeling overwhelmed. Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points temped like as we are, yet without sin.” Being real and honest with ourselves and God is very important. God wants to set our minds at rest. In His Word, the Bible, we see this reality and truth. We see real people with real life situations. God provided beyond measure for those who believed and waited on Him. Those who chose to walk away, forgetting God’s goodness or simply rejecting Him all together, suffered terrible consequences.
In Matthew 6:25-34 we find a comforting word from Jesus as He encourages us to trust God and to not worry, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” It’s crystal clear that God Himself wants to care for every need and in every area without exception.
For those that choose to believe in God, receive Jesus as Lord and the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit are given new life and begin a transformation of thinking, as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.” We see this explained more in terms of practical living in Romans 12, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
God encourages mental preparedness. He wants us to know what to do, how to do it, when and where all while walking by faith. He encourages us to see what He’s doing, to rest and rejoice as He lovingly works with us and on our behalf. Psalm 40:5, “Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Matthew 11:28-30. “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” In this next passage we notice that God definitely looks at what we do with or without Him and how we respond to His Light, which is Jesus in John 3:20-21, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
Finally, we come to a charge for mental preparedness as we live out our time on this earth in 1 Peter 1:13-17, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” God announces this beautiful and comforting promise to all who choose to believe, love and obey Him in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Want to get your mind ready?
Let’s Ask Him
Great and Mighty God, I realize that without You I’m not ready for anything. Jesus, my Lord and Savior, I surrender all I am to You; my spirit, soul, mind and body. Holy Spirit transform me and renew my mind to be like Christ. Remove all damage and trauma from my emotions, thoughts, behavioral patterns and perceptions. Touch me with Your delivering and healing power. I choose to submit my will and emotions to You. Align me in Your perfect will and plan for my life. Father help me to see what You are doing, to be ready in my mind, self-controlled keeping my hope in You. Guide me with Wisdom and common sense to know what to do and not do as well as when and where. Strengthen me to face truth and reality and to choose be holy as You are holy. Please help me not to worry but to rest in You knowing that as I seek You all my needs will be met. Teach me how to live my life dependent on You and to enjoy all the good things You provide. You are beyond compare and love unconditionally, how I thank and praise You Lord. I love You, in Jesus name. Amen.
Until next time...
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