How to Keep from Losing your Mind

By Mark Finley

It's a real privilege to be with you here at the mental health summit of the North American Division.
My topic this morning is how to keep from losing your mind or developing the mind of Christ. As we get
into that topic, let's bow our heads to pray.
Father in heaven, we thank you with all of our hearts for these minds of ours, minds that can reflect
the image of Jesus. We want to guard our thoughts in a world that's losing their mind, which material
values to secularism, to discouragement, despair and depression. To Satan's temptations, we pray that you
help us to guard our minds and keep our minds in the name of Jesus Christ, amem.
The human brain is an infinite engineering intelligence. The average person has about 48 thoughts
a minute. According to the neuroimaging lab at the University of Southern California, now that adds up to a
total of 70,000 thoughts a day and a whopping 25 million, 550,000 thoughts a year. That's pretty
staggering, isn't it? The average human brain weighs about 3 pounds and continues to develop until a
person is approximately 18 years old. Human brains contain a hundred billion brain cells and these brain
cells are the longest living cells in the body.
They can actually live as long as the human being lives. Now the thoughts of the brain are powered
by something called neurotransmitters, and they're in turn powered by copious amounts of blood. So the
red blood cells of the oxygen-carrying cells to the human brain and to the body, and the more oxygen we
have to the brain, the clearer our thought patterns are the interesting thing about this is that without
oxygenated blood, a person can live probably 4 to 6 minutes at most and a person will lose consciousness
after 10 seconds. Can you believe it after 10 seconds without oxygenated needed blood? Now these
neurotransmitters that fire in the brain develop. And they are similar to waterways or channels is very
simplistic way to put it.
I recognize that but when water runs down a particular channel, it deepens that channel so as these
neurotransmitters fire in the brain. They develop brain patterns and as these brain patterns develop as the
result of the electrical impulses that fire repeated messages down this pathway in our brains, the more we
think a certain thought, the deeper the pathway becomes.
And so picture this neurotransmitters creating electrical impulses in the brain and the more you
think negative thoughts, the deeper that channel. If you use an illustration of a water wave becomes the
more you think positive thoughts, the more that pathway to the brain connects with those brain cells to
develop positive pathways. Now here is a vital truth that affects our thinking. You're ready for it. Here it is.
The human mind is so constructed that it will always set itself on something and it’s a love life if we
think about something long enough. The thing we think about long enough is what we become. Our
thoughts will literally be in a grove, and once our thoughts are locked in that groove, our attitudes and our
actions follow. It's of Paramount importance that we guard our minds.
But I'd like to take you back 2000 years to a dark. Damp, dingy dungeon apostle Paul is in Rome.
He's older now. His hand is shaking. They're deep etched lines upon his face, his hair has grayed, the old
warrior the cross has experienced shipwreck beaten with rods, stoning the old war of the cross, is now
weary. His body aches with pain, but yet he writes to the church at Philippi, those magnificent words. The
Book of Philippians is a masterpiece. It's a masterpiece of joy in the midst of trial and difficulty. Paul's
thoughts did not turn to negative pathways. The neurotransmitters of his brain did not go down the
pathway of depressed thinking.
 Paul in the book of Philippians 28 or more times talks about rejoicing or rejoice. In Philippians 4
verse 4 he says: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” he's in prison. He’s separated from family and friends, so easy
to get discouraged and depressed. And he says: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!”
The words of rejoicing are mentioned again and again and again throughout the Book of
Philippians. Paul’s, positive frame of mind is also interesting. Introduced earlier in the book of Acts, you
recall Paul was the first time he was in Phillippi was preaching. And as he preached in the city. He angered
many of the citizens. He was thrown in prison into that dark prison before he was thrown there, he was
beaten, the Bible says, placed in stocks, that is, his hands and feet were metaled, or they were placed in
these wooden entrapments. And here Paul and Silas are in prison and what do we read about them that
acts the 16th chapter?
What was their mental frame of mind? What were they thinking when they were there in prison?
Did their did they think this is just a failure? This never should have happened to me. Did they think
negative thoughts? God…Why did you ever allow this to happen? God we were serving you, God. This is
unfair. What were Paul and Silas thinking? Act 16, verse 25:
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were
listening to them and suddenly there was a great earthquake...” here Paul and Silas are in prison. And
they're not in any way depressed and discouraged. Why not? Because they believe that God is greater than
their challenges. God's bigger than their difficulties. God's larger than whatever they have to face.
Paul’s positive frame of mind. Echoes and re echoes throughout his epistles. Now the question
needs to be asked how do you rejoice when you're in prison? How do you rejoice with your bodies racked
with pain? How do you rejoice when you're separated from those that you love? How can you resist
negative melancholy, depressing thoughts and facing a crisis? Now there's a short, powerful message for
Paul that comes like an arrow from the Lord's Quiver and pierces our hearts.
Philippians chapter 2 how can you rejoice in times of difficulty? How can you keep from losing your
mind in times of trial? Now notice Philippians 2, verse 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus. Paul's in prison and he says: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,…” The word let
means allow or permit. In other words, if we surrender our minds to Christ and allow him to shape our
thoughts. Jesus will transform our thinking. Now remember. If you think something long enough, it's gonna
impact your action, your attitudes.
Now in this presentation, to share with you a few basic biblical principles of how to keep your mind
when the world's losing their mind. How to refrain from negative, unhealthy attitudes and depressive
feelings. These eternal principles are going to make a major difference in your life.
Here's the principle number 1: Our focus shapes our thoughts
Can you say that with me? You got it. Our, Our what our focus shapes our thoughts. Our thoughts
are not developed in a vacuum.
They are developed based on internal factors, some of which are genetic and external stimuli. But
those internal factors and those external stimuli, that is to say what's going on inside our heads and what's
going on around us, those factors are not as great as what's going on above us. It's not what's within us, or
not what around us, but it's what a focus on what's above us, what's beyond us that keeps us sane in an
insane world.
Now these thoughts. That we think are firmly fixed in the groups of our brain. As we focus on them,
they become indelibly written in our mental or moral constitution. We become like what we think about
most. This is why the apostle apostle Paul says in Colossians 3. That Paul urges us, encourages us, how to
have positive thought patterns. This is what he says. Colossians three, verse 1-2. “If then you are raised
with Christ, seek those things that are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind
on things above, not on things on Earth.” Set your mind, the Bible says on things above. Notice the two
words seek and set. If you want to change your thought patterns, make a conscious choice. To seek the
things of eternity, make a conscious choice to set your mind on things above.
Now Paul emphasizes this point again in First Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18, where he says by
beholding you know it, don't you? By beholding we become what changed. So that's the principle. We
become like that which we most admire. We become like that where we set our thought patterns on. If our
thought patterns are on the majesty of God, the greatness of God, the goodness of God, the mercy of God,
we may be going through challenges, we may be going through some difficulties. But our minds are lifted
above the problem to the God who is greater than the problem, and he can provide solutions to the
problem.
So our minds are not fixed upon the problem. Our minds are not stayed upon the problem. Our
minds have stayed upon God. Ellen White adds this remarkable statement. In the book Patriarchs and
Prophets, Page 597, which he says.
“It is a law of the mind. It is a what? The law of the mind. There are certain laws, the law of gravity,
the law of inertia, certain scientific laws. “It's a law of the mind that it gradually adapts itself to the subjects
upon which it strained to dwell. If occupied with commonplace matters only. It will become dwarfed and
feeble … If never required to grapple with difficult problems, it will, after time, almost lose the power
growth. In the word of God, the mind finds subject for the deepest thought in the loftiest aspiration.”
So it's a lot of the mind that it's gonna adapt itself on the subjects it's allowed to dwell. If you dwell
in your problems, your mind's gonna be filled with problems. If you dwell in your difficulties, your minds
gonna be filled with difficulties. If you dwell on what's negative about other people, you're gonna see
negative, you know, other people. But if you focus your mind, let this mind be any of those in Christ. If you
focus your mind on Jesus. If you feel your mind with the faith building stories of the Word of God. If you fill
your mind with the miracles of Christ. If you fill your mind with the grace and forgiveness of Christ. You
then will see the majesty of the spirit of God through Jesus working in your heart and in your life.
If you want to change your thoughts, change your focus. Repeated actions become ingrained
thoughts. Now here's the second vital principle. First, by the principle of having healthy mental mind,
healthy thoughts, the first principle is. Focus your mind on the things off eternity.
Now here's the second one. Don't accept every thought that passes through your mind is true.
Merely because you think something doesn't make what you think reality. (14:09 )Don't accept
every thought that passes through your mind as true now. The Bible is clear simply because we think about
negative thoughts about ourselves. Others are circumstances. What we are facing, what we're thinking,
doesn't make those thoughts or reality. Again we discover something wonderful, some amazing council in
this book of rejoicing. What's the book of rejoicing? Philippians chapter 4, verse six. Here it is.
We discover something amazing here. Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6. The Lord reveals to us a divine
plan of mental health. Be anxious for nothing. “Be anxious for what? Nothing. What does it being anxious
mean? Be worried, tense. Fearful. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with
Thanksgiving, let your request be made to God and the peace of God. The Peace of God, which that passes
all understanding will guard. Or keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Now there are four things
about that text are important #1.
Number one keep our minds when the world is losing their mind. Secondly, we could have peace when we
don't understand. Now that's the key point. There are times. That people say to me, why did this happen to
me? I just don't understand it and they're all chance and upset when you know God, you don't have to
understand everything. What I don't understand with my head, I can still believe with my heart when I
cannot figure it out in my mind. I can still have peace in my soul because there is a peace that passes. What
understanding? Thirdly, we'll keep our minds not by being consumed by Warwick fear and anxiety, but by
focusing on something different than either our own frailties, weaknesses or circumstances. Through
prayer, we'll discover the power of God to change our thought patterns, from worry about ourselves to the
wonder about the goodness of God. And here's the fourth thing about our text prayer becomes the
channel. For the blessings of God to flow into our lives and eradicate us from being. Eradicate the
stranglehold of worry, fear, and anxiety. So as we pray and seek, God's peace replaces worry, hope replaces.
Fear. Joy replaces sorrow. So merely because I think something. Merely because I'm worried about
circumstances. Merely because I'm fearful about what may happen in the future. Merely because I'm
tensed up about something in my own life. Does not mean that that is reality. I can be living in a false
world. The world of Eternity is a big world. God is a big God. I remember JP Phillips book your God is too
small. We serve a big God who can deliver us. From those in stranglehold of those emotions now the devil
sometimes tempts us. To focus on how bad we are and how horrible our circumstances are. Now we can do
that by focusing us on thoughts about ourselves. That we're not good enough, that we can never be saved.
Pick an inflict upon us that negative thinking first. John, chapter three, verse 21st John, Chapter 3, verse 20,
when the Devil attempts to say to you that you are not good enough. When the devil attempts to say to
you, you can never be saved. First John, Chapter 3, verse 20. If our heart condemns us, God is greater than
our heart and knows all things. What's what's John saying here? He's saying simply this don't believe the
devil's deceptions. Don't believe every thought that floods into your mind when the devil tells you you are
guilty Sinner telling Jesus you somebody savior and you're a child of God when the devil tells you you're too
weak to overcome some cherish sin. Counties, right? But Jesus is a mighty conqueror, and in his name you'll
be victorious. But the devil tells you that your families falling apart and there's little hope. Tell them that
Jesus is a mighty healer and that in Christ there is hope. Don't listen to the devil's lies about yourself,
because the devil is a liar and the father of all lies. Merely because you think something doesn't make the
something you think about necessarily true. And this is true regarding our own thoughts about ourselves
and regarding our own thoughts about others. Merely because you think something about somebody else
doesn't mean what you think about them as true. Our perceptions of another are not always reality. You
remember first John, chapter four, verse 68. It says hereby we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of
error. So there's a spirit of truth and the spirit of error. The devil can try to introduce thoughts into our
minds, to divide us from other people by the perceptions of what we have about that other people, that
other person. As thoughts pass into our mind, it's vital for us to ask ourselves. God revealed to me. The
truth about this given situation my view is clouded. My view is foggy I I'm II. I'm not sure about this.
Sometimes we criticize other people as unfairly. We don't know all their circumstances. We don't know
their motives. Only God, who knows the entire circumstance, is able to judge rightly sometime I. Go, I read.
A story from Stephen Covey's book 7 habits of highly effective people. And sitting company was talking
about an experience on a tree was early one morning and it was in New York City. And this gentleman get
on the subway. And many other people were on. It was quite quiet, and people were reading books, and
people may have been chatting back and forth, some of them looking at their iPhones and some reading
the newspaper. And they stopped at a particular subway stop, and a man got on by himself with three
children, and the man just sat there. He leaned back in the chair, took a deep breath. Kind of closed his
eyes, followed his head, and the kids ran wild. The kids were running up and down the aisle of the subway
train. They were yelling, bumping into people that were reading their papers and throwing stuff their toys
at one another. Sometimes they got a little fight together in the mansion. Sat there, totally oblivious, like
nothing was going on. Well, the gentleman sitting next to him. Was feeling quite irritated about that and
was thinking of South. This guy doesn't even take care of his kids. This guy doesn't even discipline those
kids. Doesn't he hear them being so noisy and loud? And so we elbowed the guy and he said, hey look Sir,
don't you recognize that you're. Kids are going crazy. They're running up and down the aisles, they're
bumping into people. They're knocking the newspapers on people's hands. Sir, don't you think you'd have
been better have a better account of your kids? Don't you think you should do something and say
something? Man looked up and he said. I am so, so sorry. I guess I was lost in another world for a few
moments. You see? We just left the hospital. My kids are in the waiting room. And I went in. To see my wife
for the last time. Because my wife just died in the hospital. And I'm gonna tell my kids that I don't when we
get home. And I I quite don't know what to say. And I I'm so sorry because I just lost my wife because of
cancer. The man. Who felt irritated, looked at this gentleman, said I am so sorry his perceptions were
changed when he knew the facts. Often the devil will put into our heads negative thoughts about other
people because he wants to create barriers. But once we understand what's going on in the lives of other
people, it makes all the difference. So the devil can give us thoughts about ourselves that we're not good
enough. The devil can give us thoughts about other people, and the devil can give us thoughts about
circumstances. That evil weapon camps us with thoughts like these. The situation is impossible. Life is so
unfair. Why did this happen to me? I don't deserve this. You're passing talk. Could have thought that when
he was in prison. It couldn't be. He could have thought that was being beaten with rods. He could have that
thought that when he was being stoned. He could have thought that when he was shipwrecked in the sea.
When the thought dominates our minds that life has treated us unfairly, it's easy to begin to doubt God's
loving intentions for us. And this leads us to become anxious, worried, and fearful. First John, Chapter 4,
verse 18 and 19 first John Chapter 4 there's something bigger than our circumstances, something greater
than our trial, something larger than our difficulties. First John Chapter 4, verse 18 and 19 and what is it?
There is No Fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment, and he will. Fear is
just not been made perfect in love. We love him because he first loved us. If we know that God loves us, if
we know that God will never do us any harm. If we know that he's holding us in his hand. And whatever we
have to go through, he will strengthen us in Christ. Life circumstances do not overwhelm us because we
have one of us cast out all fear of failure. We know that the one who loves us holds us in his hands and in
him. We are secure. Remember our thoughts about ourselves. Our thoughts about others, our thoughts
about circumstance of life don't always reflect reality. Now here is the third principle in keeping your mind
replace old thoughts with new ones. Now Eastern mysticism says this. Find some quiet place to meditate.
Empty your mind. And come to a quiet place when that mind is empty. That's basically eastern mysticism.
Eastern mysticism is not people who concept. The truth is, the mind can never be emptied. It must be
renewed. Did you get that? I don't want you to miss it. The mind can never be empty. There's always gonna
be something there. But it can be renewed. Romans chapter 12, verse two. Romans, chapter 12. Biblical
principles to keep. Your mind when the world is losing its mind. Romans 12, verse 2. Do not be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and
acceptable and perfect will of God. Don't be conformed to this world, but be renewed. Phillips JB Phillips
translation translates Romans 12 to this way. Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold. But renewed
remember the story that Jesus told of casting out demons from a from a man? And then he said the house
was left empty in seven more demons came back. The devil can fill an empty mind. He can't, he can't fill a
field, mind. The devil can fill an empty mind, but you can't fill a full line. What Jesus is saying is this, if by
the grace of God and evil, thoughts cast out. And you don't replace it with a good thought. Seven or more
evil thoughts are gonna come flying into your mind. Fill your mind with positive thinking and you'll drive
out evil thoughts. If good things don't fill the empty spaces in our mind, evil things will. All empty space are
gonna be filled with something our mind is. Renewed when we fill it with the word of God. Day by day, as
you open the word, let the word transform your mind and renew your mind. Remember, Paul talks about
insecurity is 1015 bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ? Now in white in her book
My Life Today, page 25 says when we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart issue united with his heart. The
will is merged in his will. The mind becomes one with his minds. The thoughts are brought into captivity
with to him. We live his life. When we submit ourselves to Christ our hearts. Are united with his heart, our
mind is united with his mind, and always spirit enters our life. Now here's the 4th principle. 4th principle is
this. Maybe we should review the first three. What's the first one? Your thoughts follow your focus. Focus
your mind. Please return it to what's the second great principle that we study today? Second grade
principle is this. Something's always gonna fill your mind. Choose to fill your mind with things and eternity.
And then we studied the principle about. Transformation of our minds. You can't empty your mind. Mine
must be prudent. Captivity to Christ and then fourth Prince of places. Screen on your mind now. No. My
wife and I live in Virginia. A few mosquitoes there, and in the summertime we don't open the windows.
When before we go to bed without screens on them, why not? Have you ever been in a hotel room? Where
it's been filled with mosquitoes and you went swatting those things. You know, not long ago I was in
particular country that will remain unnamed. It was a hot tropical country. They had little air conditioning in
the hotel. And when I walked up the hall to my room, literally I could see mosquitoes everywhere. And I
said, Oh no, there's gonna be a tough night. Open the door to my room and I I'm not kidding you. There
must have been 2025 mosquitoes there. So before I went to bed, you know, I took some magazine and I'm
swatting, WAP WAP swatting all these mosquitoes. I think I got about 20 of them, but I didn't get five. Went
to bed. You know you're getting up, you're sweating these things. What do you put a screen on your
window for? You put it in death of bugs out. It's not pleasant to be trying to sleep and having this fight
mosquitoes buzzing around your head and biting you. Now God has given us a divine screaming for our
minds. Here it is divine scream for the blinds. Could be in chapter 4. We looked at that before. Do you
remember we looked at Philippians chapter 4. Verse seven. It talks about the peace of God that surpasses
all understanding is gonna keep garner. Keep your minds. Now here's the screen finally, brother sisters.
Gives us seven things. To evaluate everything that enters our mind, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is just verse 8, whatever. Things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are good,
report if there's any virtue, if there's any praise, think upon these things. So let's look at these seven filters
in our passage. Finally, brethren, whatever is true. That is true. Opposed to that which is false, the world
promises what it never can deliver. It parades over the screen of our minds through Hollywood falsehood.
And gets us to think that that falsehood is reality. And if we only live like that, we'd have some joy. The
promises of God are true if we fill our mind with that, which is false. Hollywood Productions, stuff on the
Internet. If we substitute the false and the artificial for the real and the genuine. Will only end up. Having
our minds captured by that which we think about most eternal truths often have little appeal to the
minefield with falsehood. Fill your mind with that which is true, which is that which is true, that which is
honest. A better translation for honest there would be honorable or reverent or worthy. One writer
expresses this thought. As the dignity of holiness, fill your mind with with, with that which is honest, that is,
which is honorable. As the dignity of holiness. Is what you're reading doesn't have the dignity of holiness?
Is what you're watching on television. Doesn't have the dignity of holiness is what you're looking at in the
engine interactions? Have the dignity of holiness. See, these are screens to the mind that will help us keep
our minds when the world is losing. This whatever is true at us, whatever is just, just. Would be better
translated justice. Justice has to do with righteousness or doing what's right. Fair. Equitable. Ask yourself
this question. Is what I'm watching, reading, looking at helping people to me to treat other people more
righteously, more fairly, and more equitably. Then whatever is pure, so clean that it's fit, can be brought
into the presence of God. What do you think about that? Is what you're viewing? Is what you're listening
to? Is what you're filling your mind with so pure? That it can be brought into the presence of God? Can I
bring this activity safely into his presence? Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, that which brings forth
love, that's in kindness, sympathy, forbearing. Are you watching something that is so gruesome? Are you
reading something that is so gruesome? It may be true. But is it lovely? Our minds are like a sponge, and
we are shaped by those things that we put into our minds. Whatever is good report, that's something fit for
God to hear. It's not ugly, not fall, it's not cheap, not impure, and the last is virtue. Something that's
virtuous excellence. In other words, things that are virtue raise you to be everything that you can be in.
Christ Jesus is the divine. All powerful thought change. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ changes
our carnal hearts and our carnal thoughts to spiritual ones, our selfish thoughts to to loving outgoing ones
to the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus changes our greedy thoughts into giving thoughts, our impure
thoughts into pure thoughts, our critical thoughts into caring thoughts. Will you let Jesus change? Your
thoughts within? The parcel process left this mind be in you, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord, we say Jesus.
Out of focus upon you, I wanna focus upon your goodness. Focus upon your grace. Focus upon your mercy.
Focus upon your forgiveness. Focus upon your power. Jesus. I don't wanna be feel with negative thoughts. I
don't wanna be filled with my problems my already so my difficulties, my sorrows. I don't wanna be
chained. In this negative world, I don't wanna lose my world to Hollywood it’s false, joy. I want the deep
abiding last peace. That only Christ can you deep abiding, lasting joy that only Christ can give, but deep
abiding last in happiness that only Christ can give. If that is your desire, your head with me now, father the
other. You are an almighty God. These brains of ours are amazing. With thousands of thoughts rushing into
everything. With millions of thoughts coming to us each week. and lord teach us to focus on the things of
eternity help us to have the mind of Christ help us not our minds. The things of this world with the things of
eternity are beckoned. Crazy. As we surrender our lives to you and our thought patterns to you in Jesus
name, amen.