An article entitled Share Your Good News & You Will Be Better by Emma Seppala, describes psychologists' research on the joys of sharing joy. Of course we share our joys, right? We enjoy being joyful, right?
In fact, the article explains that while most of us have 3 times as many positive experiences as negative experiences, the abundance of joyful experiences can serve to diminish them. We take joyfulness for granted and instead focus our attention on negative experiences.
Seppala recommends making daily lists of things you feel grateful for. She says being intentional about noticing those people, events & things that make you feel joyful, improves your psychological & physical health & sense of well-being. Gratitude & joyfulness "improves our ability to connect with others, boosts our tendencies to want to help others, makes us optimistic & happier, decreases envy & materialism, & even improves health for people with physical ailments," she writes.
My family & friends make me feel grateful; they know all my bad points & still love me. I also enjoy reading & learning about family history; I just started a class on DNA, by our local genealogical society. I like working out at the gym, which gives me more energy, strength, endurance, & more deep sleep. I'm grateful for our warm home on cold days. I am grateful for God who is so faithful to me.
I am blessed to share my good news with you. Now, start your own list of people, events, & things that make you feel joyful. Then share your good news with someone else. It will warm your heart on a cold day. Sharing your joy will give you more joy.
Friday, February 16, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
God of the Oppressed in Spirit -mental illness
Our understanding of people has changed a lot since the days when Jesus walked on this earth. Back in those days, people with symptoms of what we call mental illness were viewed as demon-possessed. Today, terms like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar, trauma & eating disorders are terms that many of us heard of.
Some leading Biblical characters showed symptoms of what we today would call mental illness. Job, Jonah, Elijah, & Jeremiah all experienced such deep anguish that they wanted to die. Job 3:11 says, Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came out of the womb? (See also Job 7:11, Jonah 4:3, I Kings 19:4 and Jeremiah 20:18.) Yet they are all considered great examples of deep faith.
King Saul's behavior suggests that he may have been bipolar, according to an article by George Stein in the British Journal of Psychiatry (March, 2011). He cites I Samuel 10:10-13, 16:23, and 19:23-24. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzer had a period in his life when his reason left him, according to Daniel 4:36, but this served to teach him that God Alone is in control of life. The Psalms are full of anguish, especially Psalm 88. So there were mental illnesses in the Scriptures, although they were not understood as that back then.
Psalm 34:18 says, The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Yes, God is the God of the oppressed in spirit. If you are feeling despondent, or low in spirit, remember that promise. God knows what it's like to be crushed in spirit, because his Son Jesus was crushed in spirit when he died on the cross.
Here are several suggestions from Teresa Lockhart Stricklen:
Remember: STORE UP SCRIPTURE. Memorizing verses like these can help subdue thoughts that affect one's mental health. If you struggle to memorize things, write them down where you will be reminded. Memorizing them or repeating them helps our souls to absorb it like a sponge absorbs water.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
BREATH PRAYERS consist of repeating a phrase with every breath, to plant the prayer thought deep in your soul. You can pray one of the previous verses.
GOOD THINKING: The Bible instructs us in Philippians 4:8,
Some leading Biblical characters showed symptoms of what we today would call mental illness. Job, Jonah, Elijah, & Jeremiah all experienced such deep anguish that they wanted to die. Job 3:11 says, Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came out of the womb? (See also Job 7:11, Jonah 4:3, I Kings 19:4 and Jeremiah 20:18.) Yet they are all considered great examples of deep faith.
King Saul's behavior suggests that he may have been bipolar, according to an article by George Stein in the British Journal of Psychiatry (March, 2011). He cites I Samuel 10:10-13, 16:23, and 19:23-24. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzer had a period in his life when his reason left him, according to Daniel 4:36, but this served to teach him that God Alone is in control of life. The Psalms are full of anguish, especially Psalm 88. So there were mental illnesses in the Scriptures, although they were not understood as that back then.
Psalm 34:18 says, The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Yes, God is the God of the oppressed in spirit. If you are feeling despondent, or low in spirit, remember that promise. God knows what it's like to be crushed in spirit, because his Son Jesus was crushed in spirit when he died on the cross.
Here are several suggestions from Teresa Lockhart Stricklen:
Remember: STORE UP SCRIPTURE. Memorizing verses like these can help subdue thoughts that affect one's mental health. If you struggle to memorize things, write them down where you will be reminded. Memorizing them or repeating them helps our souls to absorb it like a sponge absorbs water.
Philippians
4:6-7 Do not be anxious
about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I
will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
BREATH PRAYERS consist of repeating a phrase with every breath, to plant the prayer thought deep in your soul. You can pray one of the previous verses.
GOOD THINKING: The Bible instructs us in Philippians 4:8,
Finally,
brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—
-if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.
As ambassadors of Christ, who heals our infirmities, we have spiritual medicine to offer alongside medical treatment.
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