It’s been a while since I wrote a blog but I sure feel a stirring inside to add to my website something that has been stated many times by Christians and Non-Christians alike. How is this information going to assist you in your mental health journey? Welllll, just wait and see!

Let’s begin with the scripture 1 Corinthians 5:12 “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” Judgement. Why do we do it? Many people say “This is just how I am, I can’t help it, it’s me, I can say whatever I want about whoever I want and if you don’t like it….?” This, to me, is a defiant answer. An answer for an excuse to behave any which how and for why? People who suffer with mental health issues have told me “Gee, what does so-and-so expect from me? I am sick!” Well, yes, you may have been diagnosed with a behavioral health issue but it does not give you the license to keep doing “whatever feels good” at the time. If you are a Christian, you believe that Christ is the Lord of your life, you read the Bible and more importantly obey the Bible, you need to stop making excuses and start living like a Christian! That said, I put myself into this category and I often fail in the very areas that I feel so passionate about. Romans 2:1 states “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things.” This is pretty serious, folks. God is the ultimate judge. What this is saying is two-fold. We condemn ourselves when we judge others. Secondly, we sometimes don’t like another persons behavior because we do the exact same thing! People have said to me “Well, I just don’t like so-and-so because of such-and-such. Besides, they do this and that and I HATE this and that!” Guess what! The “this and that” that they may be acting upon just may be something you do yourself and don’t like it within yourself! That’s something to ponder.

Now, to come down a different runway, I’d like to talk about gossip. First off, who is a gossip? Here are some definitions: A backbiter, busybody, slanderer, talebearer and/or whisperers. So then, a Biblical definition of gossip would be to spread rumors or secrets, speak about someone maliciously behind their back or repeat something about someone else that you have no right to repeat. The truth is this: The more you talk about a person in a negative sense, the more negative you feel about your own life.

How Can You Avoid Gossip?

Consider these simple steps to be sure you are not involved in gossip:

Do not associate yourself with one who is a known gossip.
When someone starts to gossip — change the subject.
If you are not part of the problem or part of the solution, stay out of it.
If you have fallen into the bad habit of gossiping — ask God to change your heart.
When you have been the victim of gossip — confront the parties that spread the rumor with love and concern.

Although I know this to be true, I must be honest and admit I find myself listening to gossip and even partaking of gossip. Am I a hypocrite? Absolutely! But I, as all Christians are, continually learning, continually trying to live according to God’s word. We are all God’s Children. If we believe that Christ is our Savior and live accordingly what exactly should that life look like? Here is a clue of what it is should not look like: Galatians 5:18 states: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

I believe this is self explanatory. No one is or will ever be able to continually behave with this fruit the Bible talks about. I try, I fail, I try, I fail again. All I know is that the more you pray to learn how to “walk in the fruit of the spirit” the less you will be labeled a hypocrite in the eyes of others and more importantly you will please God which is every Christians hope. The more you please God and praise Him for all the good He has done in your life and the lives of others, the more He showers you with tremendous blessings. And in my opinion, the bottom line to assist a person with a behavioral health problem or even without such a diagnosis happens to be the very last “fruit of the Spirit”: Self-Control. If we can learn to master Self Control we can live a much more VICTORIOUS “strifeless” LIFE!!!

Workin on my fruit,
Nancy