Mental health is something that has often been overlooked and neglected in the “black” community, especially with black men. Our minds have been shaped and molded by experiences ranging from childhood trauma, mourning, social expectations, hatred, and more. All leading to our current mental status. The battlefield in our mind is a continual fight for our sanity. Our Father is very aware of this battle and warns us of our ability to be delusional.
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The word “heart” here is referring to our mind. Deceitful in this scripture means “insidious” or moving in a hidden, slow and sneaky way to cause a lot of harm before people notice.The phrase “desperately wicked” means to be weak or sick. Notice at the end, the question is asked “who can know it?” Nobody really understands the intentions and the motivation of their own mind. We didn’t choose to be this way, we were born like this. However, we don’t have to stay like this.
Psalm 51:5
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Iniquity in this verse means “guilt” and “in sin” means the condition of sin where sin is the transgression of God’s law (1 John 3:4).
2 Esdras 3:21–22
21 For the first Adam bearing a wicked heart transgressed, and was overcome; and so be all they that are born of him.22 Thus infirmity was made permanent; and the law (also) in the heart of the people with the malignity of the root; so that the good departed away, and the evil abode still
Based on the sin of Adam we have this condition where our minds are weak, sick and inherently desire wickedness. We automatically have a false view of ourselves in terms of the image that we were created to be.
Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Once we establish the image of God as being our intended reality regarding our characteristics and moral standard, we can see how short we come to the actual image of God. It’s safe to say we are malfunctioning when considering our intended purpose. Paul wrestled with the law of the malignant root as described in 2 Esdras (Ezra) hiding within.
Romans 7:22–26 (KJV)
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul is explaining that his spirit desires to do the right thing according to the law of God, however this malignant root that he and all men are born with is fighting against the image of God in his mind and brings his body into bondage. Paul is seeking deliverance from his own evil mind! The only way we can be healed is through the one that overcame and left behind the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) to teach us and show us how to be like the image of God.
Since the Holy Spirit, Christ and God always agree then our obedience to the Holy Spirit will save us from our delusional minds. If we operate according to our flesh we will continue to be in a state of delusion and eventually die.
Galatians 5:16-26
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Notice how we have to attack the root of the issue. The root being that we were all born with the malignant root that causes us to desire (or lust after) unrighteousness. This leaves us susceptible to being enticed by spirits and other forces that when we aren’t walking in the spirit will cause us to believe the distorted image of ourselves. Attacking the root of the issue removes the “uniqueness” of our issue and allows us to relate to other people. We are all vulnerable if we rely on our flesh, but many have overcome the issues we may be dealing with. All of the trauma, the anxiety, the hatred, the insecurities, the lust, mourning, suicidal thoughts, etc work through the melignant root that dwells in all of us.
James 1:13-15 kjv
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Now we see the cycle. If we continue to walk according to our fleshly minds, established as being deceitful and desperately wicked in which we have no idea of the depths of how deceived and wicked we are, then it concludes with death. Demons and principalities use various forms to lure us into sin. The enticing can come from social media, music, movies, friends, family, your spouse or even the church via false doctrines like the prosperity ministry and unrepented sin disguised as grace. These whispering spirits entice you by feeding your fleshly thoughts and desires by planting or watering seeds in your mind that spring forth and grow like weeds if unchecked. We have to bring these thoughts under the authority of Christ. These thoughts come from those enticing demons who only answer to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Now look at the power Christ has over demons.
Matthew 8:28-29 (KJV)
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
If we abide in Christ and he is in us then we can do this…
Luke 10:19
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
How to overcome
The first thing we have to do is be fully persuaded.
Romans 4:20-21
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
We need to know without a shadow of a doubt that we will be healed and delivered and that will activate our prayers being answered. The instability we often feel that endangers our mental health is that tug of war between our flesh and our spirit, what is real and what is a lie. The lines get blurred and we become lukewarm and double minded which is fertile ground for mental health issues. Being double minded causes you to question all your decisions and second guess all your interactions. It is hard to be confident when you’re internally conflicted.
James 1:6-8
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
I know some of us have been dealing with issues for so long that we don’t even know what being well looks like. Sometimes it can be hard to be fully persuaded, but you can ask for help with that too!
Mark 9:24
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Recall how our minds can deceive us. We can think that we believe fully but in reality we have some doubt hidden in our minds. We have to be honest with our Father and ask him, I believe to the extent I’m able but help me where doubt exists!
Romans 12:3
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Now we have to walk in what we believe by continually renewing our mind and killing our fleshly desire to go back to the same ways of thinking.
Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts
Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me
Galatians 2:20
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
In Galatians, Paul is speaking as being a living sacrifice that has crucified his fleshly desires in order to use the spirit to live and guide his life. The only way we can do such a thing is to be fully persuaded (have faith) that Christ overcame every lustful thing this world had to offer and that his spirit lives in us!
Romans 8:37
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Hebrews 4:15
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ was just like us. He had all kinds of trauma. People wanted to kill him, one of his best friends betrayed him and eventually got him killed, he lived knowing that he came to die and that he had to live flawlessly to save his people…all of this and he didn’t sin one time. Therefore it is important to understand what sin is…
1 John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
This IS referring to God’s laws that he gave to Moses to be followed in the spirit of Christ! Meaning, we do everything with Love. Love for the Father and love for our brothers and sisters.
Matthew 5:17-18
17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
So Christ walked this earth according to the law. God commanded us to listen to him and do what he did.
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked
We have to let go of our own thoughts and gain the mind of Christ if we want to be healed from the deception of this world and be able to tell what is truly the will of the Father and what is not.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Our goal in overcoming this world and mental health issues is having the mind of Christ. To gain his mind, we must be reborn (baptized) and be doers not just hearers of his word.
Finally, with this mind that is constantly being renewed, consider the good things that are to come to those who serve the true God through Christ and allow the perfect plan of the Father to cause you to work as intended.
Philippians 4:6
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
I pray that this encourages you if you are dealing with mental health issues. Know that there is nothing new under the sun and while your situation may seem unique, he that is in you is greater than the world. You will get victory if you believe in Christ, not because I said so, but because his word said so!
