Christian “Mind Games”

The 24-hour news cycle generates stress and distress for the Militant Pacifist.

Maybe one way to reduce the stress and distress would be to avoid the news – but the Militant Pacifist thinks there is an even better way:

Mind-games; Thought control. 

If you’re interested, read on!

When David returned to Ziklag after being forbidden to go on a raid with Achish, he found his wives and children missing, and his house on fire. His companions became so irate that they spoke of stoning him. In the midst of this distress – the scriptures teach that David “encouraged himself in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6).

Though David was so downcast that he couldn’t encourage others – he had enough presence of mind (or divine grace) that he was able to encourage himself in the LORD.

Though some might consider the advocacy of self-talk and divine contemplation as measures to combat distress or depression as advocating “mind-games,” the practice has a venerable history in Christian piety.

As noted above, David practices the technique in 1st Samuel 30, (other great examples are in Psalms 42, 43 and 73) and it was David who wrote in Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

In the New Testament, we find the great Apostle Paul advocating Christian thought control - “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8),” and even encouraging active manipulation/direction of the human affections. Writing to the Colossians, he says – “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:2).”

Let’s play mind games!