Have you ever received some news and it just drained you? I mean, your entire day was nonproductive. Although the situation had nothing to do with you directly, it was just draining.

This happened to me the other day. I was having a conversation with someone and they began to talk about someone else. I stopped them in the midst of their sentence:

“I mean no harm, but I don’t really care.”

Yes, I said that I did not care. Why did I say this? It was not that I had no compassion or no concern, but the conversation had no action plan. I have resolved to guard my heart. The Bible says it like this:

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

If you do resolve to protect your peace, who else will? If you do not resolve to protect your mind, who else will?

I simply do not have any room for any conversation or any activity that does not glorify my Savior. If the discussion does not have an act of faith to redeem, to re-establish, to reconnect, to restore, to re-deliver…I will unapologetically have to say: “I don’t mean no harm, but…”

I have entered a season in my life where I have to be more intentional about my mental space. I could have gone into a deep sunken hole, after the loss of my mother, but what good would it do? I realized I had to change my mindset because it is very easy to get into a sunken place and remain there. I am certain that you may feel this way as well, surrounded by many circumstances and tragic life stories, but listen here. My God has faith in me to complete the work that He has predestined for me to do. God has made me the salt of the Earth. What about you? Here is another perspective:

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV)
Rejoice always

This one scripture has 2 words, but they are so important and so powerful to the life of a believer. Why? As a Christian, we are supposed to be the most relaxed, the most grateful, the most optimistic people on this earth. Again, I ask why? Even in our darkest days, we can draw strength from a higher source – a source that the world does not have. The joy of the Lord IS our strength.

Psalm 28:7 (NKJV)
The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

If we operate in the fullness of God, we respond to circumstances differently than the world does. It takes faith to obtain strength from an entity you cannot see. It also takes an unacknowledged source of faith to operate in anxiety; but the two cannot exist together.

So what are you going to do? Put your hope God, the reality of His promises and watch how your mindset can shift as well.

Psalm 42:11 (NIV)
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

I feel bipolar most days. One day I am encouraged and the next I am hiding my tears from my family, but you know what? I trust my God. I believe in my Savior. I have taken hold of the peace he has left for me. An although I grieve for my mother, I know she is doing well. I made my mind up. I am purposed to allow God’s glory to be revealed through me.

Now, what about you?