Written by In part one of this series, we’ll discuss how Devotion, the first D in the Smith Family’s 5 Daily D’s, is key to supporting mental health and wellness.
Devotion, the first “D” in the Smith Family’s 5 Daily D’s, refers to the intentional act of spending time with God. This first aspect of Devotion is an organized studying of the scripture in order to understand who God is and what He has to say about life. Following a Bible reading plan is the quickest way to begin studying scripture; as it takes the guesswork out of where to begin.
It’s important to differentiate between reading a devotional book and being devoted to God through Bible study and prayer. Devotional material like a book or even something like this podcast/blog should complement the word of God – not replace it.
The second crucial aspect of Devotion is prayer. Prayer is the vehicle by which we communicate directly with God. Praying according to His word is the opportunity for Him to hear us and for us to hear Him. Ephesians 6:18 reminds believers to pray at all times and with all types of requests.
Utilizing the simple, but important aspects of Devotion positively impacts mental wellness because scripture is good for equipping and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means that scripture provides us with the correct framework for viewing life’s challenges. This also means that any other framework is based on the ways of the world and is foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19). Accepting, studying and following the inerrant Word of God is the first and most critical step to gaining a sound mind and decreasing symptoms of anxiety, depression and trauma. In order for there to be positive change in your mental health, every step you take toward mental wellness (whether therapy, medication or other interventions) must be established upon the unchanging Word of God.
Implementing the Devotion steps by becoming grounded in scripture and devoted to Him in prayer allows us the opportunity to develop the skills to become increasingly unwavering in God’s truth. If men such as Elijah and John the Baptist experienced moments of weakness and mental distress, then we, as similar beings, should take heed to nurture ourselves in the Word and through prayer; so that when our moments and seasons of suffering come, we can view them through the same lens that God does.
I’ve had the privilege of working with people from various walks of life. I often meet believers who love God, are good people, attend church, and are doing all the “right” things. Sometimes these believers express feelings of being stuck. While there can be various reasons for this, if the believer who is doing ‘all of the right things’ has not committed to studying the Bible and praying the word of God, I often challenge them to re-evaluate how they spend their time with Him. I’ve discovered that believers who feel the most stuck or even stagnant in their mental health have become resistant or have yet to accept the need to become more and more intimately devoted to Him through Bible study and prayer.
We will all experience moments, seasons, and years where we struggle with our mental health. We will grieve. We will experience anxiety. We will have stress. We’ll be afraid. Depression will creep in, and other mental health issues will arise. The question is not when we will experience mental distress, but how we will experience it. Will we survive it foolishly, holding on to ideologies based on culture and deception? Or will we learn to thrive through the pain by choosing God’s holy and perfect point of view? The latter is not an easy task but a necessary one for sustained wellness.
Remember that after Elijah was feeling afraid, anxious and wishing to die in 1 Kings 19, God sent ministry to him. After he rested, Elijah then traveled 40 days into the wilderness. While the Bible doesn’t speak about these next 40 days, I imagine being tired, hot, hungry, and lonely. Yet scripture tells us that his journey wasn’t in vain because although Elijah was traveling through difficulties, he was traveling to the place of revelation and encounter with the Lord.
Like Elijah, we often go from high to low and experience distress and strain. Yet, as we draw near to him in Devotion we can become more resilient as we journey through difficulties, to fulfill God’s Kingdom purpose in our lives.
Not sure where to start? See the following resources:
The Tony Evans Study Bible contains commentary and a Bible Reading Plan
Download the YouVersion App to find cover to cover bible reading plans and additional tools.
David Guziks Verse by Verse Commentary for each book of the bible https://a.co/d/16r7JbI
Through The Word App for Chapter and Verse Commentary https://throughtheword.org/about/
Kingdom Prayer: Touching Heaven to Change Earth https://a.co/d/9EQW19n
The Only Answer Is Prayer: An Intimate Walk with God into the Miraculous https://a.co/d/7xSYcJL
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