Chaplain’s Corner for June

21  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22  Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions
never fail. 23  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

• Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)
  Special Forces and Navy SEAL training teaches positive self-talk, this practice is essential for the
  resilience necessary to complete the training. It is helpful for all of us because – a person ‘says’ three
  hundred to one thousand words to oneself every minute! Your mind is powerful and fast. There’s a lot
  going on in your head, even when you don’t think there is much going on there – and you know from
  experience that a whole bunch of it is negative – if we’re not careful.
  Mental resilience is built by intentionally, consciously saying positive things. My number one
  suggestion is the beautiful truths of Scripture. God is with me. I am secure. Christ lives within me. I have
  the strength that prevails. Positive self-talk helps calm fears aroused by the amygdala, that part of the
  brain that governs anxiety.
  In recent days I’ve found myself driving and reciting out loud the opening lines from the
  Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus
  …” So simple, but so very helpful. This is what I believe; this is what I believe.
  Reading and memorizing scripture builds mental resilience because it is a living, breathing text in
  which you encounter God, and through which you get perspective on the world. How good would it be
  for your mental health to be reminded each day that Jesus is Lord of all, “running the universe,
  everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule” (Ephesians
  1:20–21 The message). Try reading Isaiah 40 for five days in a row and watch what it does for your soul. 
  Join me in this prayer:
  Begin with three deep breaths.
  Search me, God, and know my heart … know my anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23).
  I come to you, Jesus, for peace of mind. I give my mind to you. I set my mind on you. Capture my every
  thought. I surrender all the news. All worry and speculation. I surrender everything grabbing my
  attention.
  I give you my thoughts, Jesus. All of my mental life: my focus and attention, my memory and recall, my
  understanding and imagination. I dedicate the life of my mind to you, Lord Jesus, and You alone.
  The mind governed by God’s Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, come and fill
  my mind. Come and fill my thoughts. Fill my mind with life and peace.
  Repeat that …

Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, come and fill my mind. Come and fill my thoughts. Fill my mind with life and
peace.
For we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). I pray to be one mind with you, Jesus. One thought,
one imagination, one mental life. I receive the mind of Christ. I receive the mind of Christ.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, right and pure, lovely and admirable. Think about
things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Think about something beautiful, some
thing that reminds you of the goodness of God. A place you love. A sweet memory. Something in nature.
Something that makes you smile…….
Stay with that today and be blessed – Amen.
1  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…. 3  He restores my soul;… 6  Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in
the house of the LORD Forever. – Psalm 23:1,3,6 (NKJV)