Are you wondering why I would choose to limit the resources I recommend to those written by "Christians"? What makes a "Christian" any more equipped to write or teach about mental health than anyone else?
One thing I believe with all my heart is that every human being (including YOU as well as ME) has a God-given right to their own opinion. Much of the spiritual/mental health/self-help information out there is open to alternative ideas about God, such as that it is "the universe" that blesses us, etc. At the same time, the medical/scientific websites and books basically sidestep any intervention from God in the healing and management of mental illness. It's all a matter of brain chemistry and self-discipline to people with this perspective. I am not "knocking" these other perspectives. It's just that I want to promote my own beliefs and observations in the hope that they will help you.
Our personal opinions are colored by what we've been taught, by our experiences, and by our unique design, so you are certainly entitled to think what you will about religious matters. On the other hand....
Something happens to a person when they give their life to Jesus Christ. They become "born again" of the Spirit of God. According to 1 Cor. 2:12-16,
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
The reason I share that Scripture here is because when a person becomes "born again" they receive a new relationship with God and become able to communicate with Him and to understand the Bible in a way previously impossible to them.
And so I ask you, are you born again? Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, I encourage you to do so. It's not a hard thing to do, but it requires humility and honesty. For me, it was a matter of realizing that I couldn't handle life without the help of the God who created me, and that I believed in the Jesus of the New Testament, who is the resurrected Son of God. I acknowledged to Him that I was willing to do things "His way." That means according to the Bible, the best I could understand it. When I arose from that prayer, I had an assurance in my heart that He had heard me, and I have not doubted the reality of the God of the Bible since that day. He truly came in and "made a believer out of me."
He is even now seated beside His Father in heaven "making intercession for me" and for everyone else who has placed their lives in His ownership.
The words you use when you make this commitment to Jesus should be from your own heart and based on an honest conviction of your own need for Him. If you're not sure of all this, I would encourage you to read the Bible prayerfully and begin attending a Bible-believing church, because faith comes by the hearing of God's Word (Rom. 10:17.) Some good places to read are the Gospel of John, chapters 3, 14,15, 16, and 17. Psalm 51 is about the feeling of conviction for our sins. God does not disdain or belittle a person who is "contrite," which means they are sorry for their sins. God rejects the proud but offers grace to those who have a humble, receptive heart.
If you have any questions about how to become a Christian and what life should then be like, feel free to email me at barbarawood4 (at) hotmail.com.
If you would like to hear my own personal testimony of coming to faith in Christ, you can listen to it at Unshackled.org. Simply follow this link which will take you to the 2004 archives of the "Unshackled!" radio program. Scroll down to the week of 4.25.04 and you'll see my name (Barbara Wood.) Choose the audio player you want and listen!
