With all that is happening in the world today and maybe coupled with your personal issues, it’s easy for you to feel like you’re losing your mind. It is easy for your mind to crack under all of that pressure. Today, God’s word reminds us of a truth–better yet, our reality. We have been given the spirit of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)
Before going further, we must define what “sound mind” means. Based on the context and original usage, we can liken the word to self-control, sound judgment/ decisions, and the absence of panic or confusion. Simply put, a sound mind refers to a stable mind that makes sensible and self-controlled decisions.
Fear versus sound mind
Fear can come in many forms, including anxiety or trauma. When you live in fear, having a sound mind is almost impossible. For context, this letter was written to Timothy at a time when the Romans were getting more vicious about killing Christians. Timothy feared he was next and Paul wrote to him. Sensing Timothy’s fear, he encouraged him and the church at large, saying that we have not received the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2Tim 1)
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
From the passage above, we can understand that the spirit of fear opposes the spirit of a sound mind. Most people make the wrongest decisions of their lives in the face of fear. The disciples were so afraid that they abandoned Jesus and we know well about what Peter did (Matt. 26:56; Lk. 22: 54-62). The scripture describes fear as a slavemaster. It holds a person’s mind captive such that the person acts based on whatever fear tells them to do, even if it is something they should not do. (Prov. 29.25; Rom. 8:15)
Why you need a sound mind
It is important for believers to have a sound mind because, without it, we will act against God’s will, in an irrational and uncontrolled way. Having a sound mind means being able to make well-thought-out decisions. The spirit of fear in Peter clouded his mind and caused him to deny Jesus. When he received the spirit of a sound mind, he did things that saved the souls of many (Acts 2:14-42).
You need a sound mind to live in God’s purpose for your life. I would like to apply this in relation to mental instability. Saul did not have a sound mind. He tried to kill innocent David many times and even tried to kill his own son. He could not live in the will of God for his life because of that.
Every single person is born with a purpose and for that purpose, you need your mind. A person who is out of their mind can hardly ever live out their purpose. For example, the madman of Gadara was so out of his mind that he cut himself up with rocks and broke chains used to bind him. He was secluded in a cave, ostracised from people. The day his mind was restored by Jesus, he started to live out his purpose as an evangelist. His unreasonable mind was made sound. (Lk. 8:26-39)
Peace and a sound mind
Behind every unstable or unsound mind is a lack of peace. I like to believe that one thing that allowed Jesus to make wise decisions–save the fact that He is God–is the fact that He had so much peace. When your mind is troubled, you are more likely to make irrational decisions. The deeper your peace, the “sounder” your mind. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that God keeps in perfect peace the one whose mind is stayed on Him. Keep your focus on God. It deepens your peace and thereby strengthens your mind.
Whatsoever things are pure…think on these things
Another way we can live in the sound mind God has given us is to feed that mind. Just like how you can fuel your anger by thinking of things that make you angry or fuel your sadness by thinking of things that make you sad, you can also fuel the sound mind God has given you by thinking of things that strengthen it. The scripture tells us in Philippians 4:8 that it is the things that are true, pure, lovely, of good report that we should think on. If you think about contrary things, you weaken your mind in terms of decision-making, mental strength, and submission to God’s will.
Every believer is entitled to a sound mind. The spirit has already been given to you. Insist on it in prayer and remind yourself daily of the word God has said concerning you.
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