We’ve talked in previous posts how all of life is a battle for the mind. Every day we are challenged to focus on what is trying to control our mind: past regrets, poor self-image, misled teaching, pain and suffering. Hopefully, rather than these, is the Word of God which offers hope and equips us to overcome our circumstances. The following story (from Facebook) gives testimony to the power to fight and win the battle for the mind.
Last month, former Hillsong worshipper Darlene Zschech (“Shout to the Lord”) wrote her fans with news that she started to lose her hair as she began chemo treatments for breast cancer. In a new blog post Zschech updates fans again while undergoing her third round of chemotherapy proclaiming that she is keeping her “MIND focused” on God’s word.
In her latest blog Zschech rejoices in the fact that she is almost through with treatments. “Praise God I have reached my halfway point,” she wrote. Adding, “This entire journey has truly been a mind game. Keeping my MIND focused on all God says, instead of how I am feeling, which is becoming a little fragile at times.”
She goes on to list a few scriptures that help her through her emotional time, including these two:
“2 Timothy 1:7 – For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
“Romans 8:37 – Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
As a note to all of us, she comments how encouraging messages from others FUELS her soul, a common observation of all cancer patients, I suspect.
The successful songwriter is remaining hopeful and says that God has been with her every step of the way and His word has really been a lamp unto her feet. “Again and again, God’s word trumps our adversities. It’s His nature to heal and to rescue. Never forget that. It’s all based on His great love for us – not on anything we have done.”
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How about you? What trials are you facing that present a battle for your mind? What circumstances challenge you to maintain focused on what helps, not just what hurts? Beyond cancer, other circumstances cause us to struggle with right thinking: relationship stress, chronic pain, physical disease, financial and work pressures, sorrow and grief, and so much more.
But there is HOPE. Paul writes that we are more than conquerors. How can this be? Because we focus on that which brings hope more than our feelings. Encouragement from others fuels us. God’s Word does also, on an even grander scale. Focus on what helps, not what hurts. Win the battle for your mind.