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For Mental Health, Focus On These Things
By Rick Warren

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” (Hebrews 12:3 NCV)

For mental health, you must focus your mind on the right things.

1. Think about Jesus.

You’ve heard the saying, “You become what you think about most.” If you want to become more like Jesus, you have to fill your thoughts with him.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

2. Think about others.

The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB).

Do you realize how counter-cultural that is? Everything in the world teaches you to think about yourself and nobody else. But Jesus was counter-cultural, and when you think about him, you’ll more easily think of others.

3. Think about eternity.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When you start focusing on truths like that, all of your problems are going to seem inferior compared to the glory, the joy, and the pleasure of the things we have to look forward to in eternity.

Your mind is your greatest asset and also the greatest battleground. Ask God to help you make the choice every day to feed on God’s Word, free your mind of destructive thoughts, and fill your mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then, you’ll have won the battle.

Talk It Over

What are some ways you can practice Philippians 2:4 in your small group this week? What about in your family?

How will thinking about Jesus and eternity help you think about others?

What is your biggest distraction from focusing on eternity throughout your day? How can you limit those distractions?