Participants: Shelley Quinn (Host), Magna Parks
Series Code: IAA
Program Code: IAA000440A
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00:29 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn,
00:30 and we welcome you today to Issues and Answers. 00:33 This is a program that talks about 00:36 current issues, trends, 00:38 things that are important to us, 00:40 and we look for answers from the Bible. 00:42 And I have to tell you that we are talking about 00:44 mental health today. 00:46 And you couldn't talk about an issue that's more important. 00:49 In today's world, it seems that more and more people 00:52 are unhappy, unsatisfied, 00:55 just there's things that are going on in this world 00:57 but our special guest is going to... 01:00 Who is joining us today is Dr. Magna Parks-Porterfield, 01:07 and you've got some great answers to these problems. 01:12 Now I have to say, this is part two, 01:15 because we want people to stay tuned. 01:17 If you think that you've seen this before, 01:19 last week what we covered on the last time was... 01:23 We were talking about Keys to Optimal Health 01:27 and we covered taking care of your body, 01:30 moving from the past, 01:33 and then aim for true happiness, 01:36 changing your unhealthy thoughts 01:38 and engaging in activities that help others. 01:42 So today, we're going to continue in this list. 01:46 This is part two of Optimal Mental Health. 01:51 Now something that you said Magna 01:53 and want to... 01:54 Probably should do a little more introduction on you first 01:57 but you said something last time 02:02 that really struck me. 02:04 What we are talking about is not just for people 02:07 who have a diagnosis 02:09 of some kind of a mental health problem. 02:11 Right. Right. We're talking to everyone. 02:14 Anyone who is watching by television, 02:17 listening by radio, 02:18 or watching this over the internet. 02:21 We're talking to every person 02:23 no matter what your economic income level is, 02:30 no matter what your educational level is, 02:33 this is a topic that speaks to all. 02:35 Now please tell us one more time, 02:38 you have a PhD in counseling psychology. 02:42 How did you come up with this list? 02:44 We've got nine things on our list. 02:46 How did you come up with this list 02:48 for Optimal Mental Health? 02:50 I've always been interested in the Bible and science, 02:53 not always, that's not true. 02:54 The last, probably 10 years of my career, 02:56 I've been interested in the Bible and science 02:58 and I sometimes spend time 03:00 looking at some of the latest scientific research. 03:03 And what I've started to see, 03:04 the trend is that science in some areas 03:06 are starting to kind of support the Bible. 03:09 And so I started up by looking at science 03:12 and picking what I call true scientific findings 03:15 and coming up with these Keys to Mental Health 03:18 based on whether these findings fit with what the Bible says. 03:21 Amen. Amen. 03:23 And as we've already said, what we see often is that 03:27 if science contradicts the Bible, 03:30 hold fast to the Bible because it won't take long 03:33 before science will correct itself, 03:36 and we're finding that as the longer some 03:40 that they studied on the topic, 03:41 the more it comes into agreement with the Bible. 03:46 Amen. All right. 03:47 Well, we've got some things to talk about today, 03:49 so let's just go ahead and kick this off. 03:52 What is the sixth key to optimal mental health? 03:58 Real simple, but not simple always to do, 04:00 increasing your self-control. 04:04 It sounds real simple. Yes. 04:05 But the science is showing 04:07 that people who exercise self-control 04:10 live the most satisfying and productive lives. 04:14 In fact, they're saying that self control is the key, 04:17 one of the key ingredients to a successful effective life. 04:22 You know, it reminds me of 1 Timothy 1:7. 04:25 Where the Bible says 04:27 that God did not give us the spirit of fear, 04:30 but one of power, love, power, and sound mind. 04:35 You know, interestingly, 04:37 sound mind in some translations 04:42 is translated self-control. 04:45 Isn't that something? Yes. Yeah, isn't that something? 04:47 That self-control and sound mind, 04:49 depending on the translation from the same Greek word. 04:52 They're saying basically what that means 04:55 is that these are synonymous terms. 04:58 So it is true, not just self control in 05:02 what we're eating... 05:03 No. But in everything that we do. 05:06 Everything that we do. 05:07 And I just thought that was so interesting to see 05:09 because in the Bible we see so many examples of people 05:12 who didn't have self control 05:14 and then we see a few of those who did. 05:16 You know, Moses is interesting case study to me 05:18 because he got in trouble initially 05:20 because he went on and killed that Egyptian 05:22 that was doing something to the Hebrew slave, 05:24 lack of self-control. 05:26 Then the Lord sent him for years into the wilderness 05:29 to kind of remove some of those things, I think. 05:32 Then he spent 40 years with the Israelites 05:34 and they were just stubborn, hardheaded, 05:36 and he exercised self-control 05:37 all till the very end and he struck the rock. 05:41 Twice. Twice, right. 05:43 So, you know, we have Moses, 05:45 we have Samson who was strongest weakest man, 05:47 you know, he's strong but lacks self-control 05:50 in choosing the mates. 05:51 And just various people in the Bible, 05:53 David and Bathsheba, then we have Jesus 05:56 who was like the bulwark of self control. 05:58 So self control examples are all through the Bible. 06:01 But what do we mean by self control 06:03 if somebody is watching right now? 06:05 Yes, that's a good question. 06:06 And what do we mean by self control? 06:08 If I were to give it a definition, 06:10 and it's just my own definition, 06:11 it is controlling your inclinations, 06:14 your desire to gratify yourself in all areas of life. 06:18 That's a good definition. 06:20 All areas, whether it be your feelings, your words, 06:22 your thoughts, your habits, it fits into all areas of life, 06:28 and our natural inclination 06:29 is to not want to control those things. 06:32 But that will not lead to true mental health 06:35 if we just allow it to just hang out 06:37 and never put any type of guards on our mouths, 06:40 and our bodies, and our thoughts, etcetera. 06:43 I remember once that my uncle, I was... 06:46 I interrupted to... 06:50 Basically I thought someone was going to answer 06:55 or be upset by his question. 06:57 So I kind of interjected very quickly 07:00 to answer for them 07:02 so there would not be an explosion. 07:04 And you know what happened? 07:05 He looked at me and he said, "You're a conversation hog." 07:09 And I thought, "Ah." 07:11 But then I thought I am, I shouldn't worry about, 07:14 I mean, you know, I should allow. 07:17 It was actually my sister to respond 07:20 with however she feels 07:22 and self-control is something that, 07:25 you know, we can when you're just in a situation 07:31 even with friends. 07:32 If you don't exercise self control 07:36 in what you speak, how you say it, 07:39 how much you talk or in what you're doing, 07:42 you're just not a very pleasant person to be around. 07:45 That's true. Yes. 07:46 And so that's important 07:47 as you're saying for social relationships 07:49 and it's also important for us 07:51 in terms of having the best sound mind, 07:54 the optimal mental health that we can have 07:56 and we need that self control 07:58 and it comes from the Holy Spirit 07:59 because actually that's one of the fruit of the spirit. 08:02 It talks about temperance, synonymous with self-control 08:05 but God can give us that when we ask for it. 08:08 I need self-control when it comes to chocolate. 08:11 I'm planning to pray more. 08:13 We can all find an area where we lose self-control. 08:17 Yeah, another key for optimal mental health 08:22 is cultivating positive emotions. 08:26 And I specifically chose that word cultivate 08:29 because when you cultivate something, 08:30 it doesn't just grow overnight, does it? 08:32 No. 08:33 You have to do various things, 08:35 you think about cultivating the soil. 08:36 You have to do various things, 08:37 sometimes you have to add ingredients, sunshine, water. 08:40 So this thing about cultivating positive emotions, 08:42 it takes a little while 08:43 because we are not prone to positive emotions. 08:46 Since sin came into the picture, 08:48 we are more prone to negative emotions. 08:49 Yeah, you have more people 08:51 who are more optimistic than others of course, 08:53 but for the most part we are not. 08:54 And I like this quote, 08:55 can I read it to you from Ministry of Healing. 08:57 She says, "Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, 09:04 promote health and prolong life. 09:07 A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, 09:11 is health to the body and strength to the soul." 09:14 Amen. 09:15 So she's talking about these positive things, 09:16 courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, gratitude. 09:19 Well, she doesn't mention gratitude here 09:21 but in another quote she does, all of these promote health 09:23 and I put it in there promotes mental health. 09:25 Amen. 09:27 You know what I'm thinking of right now is Romans 12, 09:33 and this is something that I remember 09:35 when I came to Nehemiah 8:10 that says, 09:39 "The joy of the Lord is your strength." 09:42 And it was not at the time 09:43 that I was feeling very joyful and I thought, 09:46 "Oh, Lord, somehow I need your joy." 09:49 And how do I get that joy? 09:51 How do we as you're saying, 09:54 how do we cultivate positive emotions. 09:57 Well, Paul told to Romans in Romans 12:2, 10:02 "Do not be conformed to this world, 10:03 but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 10:07 that you may prove 10:08 what is that good and acceptable 10:10 and perfect will of God. 10:12 And I think that what helped me the most 10:15 was this verse to know that 10:18 if I wasn't experiencing the joy of the Lord 10:20 is because I didn't see Him at the time 10:23 as being such a loving, caring Father, 10:26 but as I got into the Word of God, 10:29 it did renew my mind. 10:31 Amen. 10:32 And I began to cultivate these positive thoughts 10:37 and just, it was something that the emotions 10:40 as I began to see God in a different light 10:43 and see what His plan was for my life. 10:46 I saw that my emotions totally changed. 10:48 Amen. Amen. 10:49 That's why the word cultivate is so important. 10:52 We have to be intentional 10:54 about cultivating those emotions. 10:55 We may not feel it all the time 10:57 but for optimum mental health we have to say, 10:59 "I don't feel this right now, 11:01 but Lord show me what I can do 11:03 to cultivate this positive emotion." 11:05 And the Word of God is the foundation for that, 11:09 but then other things you can do, 11:10 there's actually something called 11:12 the positive emotion ratio. 11:15 For every one negative emotion you experience, 11:18 you try to cultivate 11:20 or intentionally experience three positive emotions. 11:23 I can give an example. Sure. 11:25 I'm feeling really sad today, 11:26 it's raining outside, I just feel really sad. 11:28 One part, negative emotion, 11:30 okay what can I do to cultivate three positive emotions. 11:32 Maybe I may pick up the Word of God 11:34 and read my famous promise. 11:36 I might decide 11:37 I want to pick up a picture of my favorite person 11:40 or if I need to pet my favorite pet. 11:42 That's two things to do. 11:43 Another thing may be sing a song, 11:46 so you're doing three things 11:48 to counteract that one negative emotion. 11:50 That shows you how powerful negative emotions are. 11:51 You know something... 11:53 I don't know where I read this study, 11:54 but that is so fascinating, Magna, 11:56 because I read once 11:57 that every time we have a negative thought, 12:00 it makes three indentions on the brain cells 12:04 in compared to a positive thought 12:06 will make one indention, 12:07 I mean, it's stuff that's coming in 12:09 and that fits that perfectly. 12:12 It does. It does. That's amazing. 12:14 So that's where that brain science is tied in there. 12:18 So cultivating that. 12:20 So cultivating positive emotions 12:23 that would once again be Philippians 4:8 12:26 that you've got to look at the positive things, 12:29 pure things, good things, 12:32 and think on such things as Paul said. 12:35 And it's not feeling based, 12:36 that's something I want to stress to. 12:38 Even though you're feeling bad, 12:40 when you intentionally 12:41 try to produce something positive, it helps. 12:45 Amen. That's really important. 12:47 This next area is one that I really like to talk about. 12:50 Spending time expressing gratitude. 12:53 Amen. 12:55 There's so much research on there now, 12:57 out there now about expressing gratitude, 12:59 it's just amazing. 13:01 You know, Paul used to say, oh, he didn't used to say, 13:03 but in the Bible it says, "Rejoice ever more. 13:06 In everything give thanks: 13:07 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus." 13:09 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 13:10 That's where you're going to? Yes, that's where I was going. 13:12 Yeah, this is the will of God concerning you. 13:14 It is reported that those who are more grateful, 13:17 they tend to be less anxious, 13:20 less depressed, less lonely, 13:23 less envious, and less materialistic, 13:26 science have shown this. 13:27 That's fascinating. It's very fascinating. 13:30 And that ties so well into what you were saying 13:33 about cultivating positive emotions. 13:37 The more... 13:38 For example, if you have... 13:41 If your foot is hurting really badly 13:43 and it's ruining your day 13:44 because let's say you got gout on your foot. 13:46 Just because I know someone 13:47 now who is suffering from gout in the foot, 13:49 and your foot is just really hurting. 13:52 It can get you down till you start thinking about people 13:55 who have no feet that have lost a leg or something. 13:58 But it's one of those things 13:59 where when you're feeling negative and sad, 14:03 if you sit down and make a list of blessings, you know... 14:06 I don't need to say anymore. 14:07 You've done it. 14:09 Oh, okay. 14:10 It's good though. Yes. 14:11 That is something. Yeah, it is. 14:13 Yeah. It's powerful. 14:15 And, you know, one thing that I've started doing, 14:19 sometimes when I'm praying, 14:21 if I don't have a lot of time to pray, 14:23 what I'll do is I start off and I'll thank God for, say, 14:28 of course after I thanked Him 14:30 for my savior and the Holy Spirit 14:32 and I always pray for the people 14:33 who don't know Him 14:34 that He'll shine light to their darkness. 14:36 I'll thank Him for my good health, 14:38 then I pray for people who don't have good health. 14:41 And I list out people I know 14:42 or I may thank Him for the material blessings, 14:45 for my beautiful home, 14:47 and then I pray for the homeless 14:49 and the people who don't have the good food on the table, 14:52 the healthy food. 14:53 But as you sit and you're thanking God 14:56 for all of these things 14:58 that we sometimes can take for granted. 15:00 And I'm so thankful, 15:02 I'm filled with a heart of gratitude 15:04 for what the Lord has done. 15:06 But then I pray for others 15:08 and it kind of makes you recognize your blessing 15:12 but then you're outwardly focused too. 15:14 You know, that kind of fits in 15:15 what I was going to share right now. 15:17 One person came up with habits of grateful people 15:21 and they were four habits I though was so powerful. 15:23 Listen to this first habit. 15:25 Once in a while they think about deaf and lost, 15:30 contemplating endings really does make you grateful 15:34 for the for the life you currently have 15:36 according to several studies. 15:38 Isn't that powerful? That is. 15:39 I just read an article in the ASI magazine 15:42 about a man who had done extremely well in his business, 15:47 very successful. 15:48 He didn't get to spend as much time maybe with his kids 15:50 as he wanted to, 15:52 and he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. 15:56 And told he had three months to live, 15:59 so he took his family, they went on mission trips, 16:02 his whole priorities changed when he heard this. 16:05 Now that's been four years ago. 16:09 And it's not that his cancer is not advancing, 16:12 but what he said in the article was 16:14 I never really started living until I thought I was dying. 16:18 That fits right into this. Yeah. 16:20 Fits right into that 16:22 and the studies are showing that, powerful story. 16:24 Another one that they say, 16:26 they take, these are grateful people, 16:27 they take good things as gifts 16:30 and not birth rights. 16:32 So sometimes we feel entitled to good things 16:35 and when we feel entitled to good things, 16:37 we're not likely to give thanks for those things. 16:39 You know, people give us a thing 16:40 and we think we deserve this, 16:42 but that's not a thankful attitude. 16:44 But grateful people, they look at things, 16:46 they're grateful for it and they count their blessings 16:49 and they look and say, "I'm so grateful for this, 16:51 I didn't have to get this. 16:53 I don't deserve this." 16:54 And, you know what that made me think of? 16:56 Salvation. Amen. 16:57 Jesus coming down and giving His life. 16:59 He didn't have to do that for us, 17:00 but when we think about it, 17:02 we recognize we're not deserving, 17:04 we're not entitled of it 17:06 because of His love for us, 17:07 that's a habit of a grateful person. 17:09 Absolutely. 17:11 And I think that 17:13 when we do have that gratitude in our hearts, 17:16 it's something that we begin to even recognize 17:21 that we can't take... 17:23 I think it makes you more humble 17:24 because you cannot take for granted 17:28 that if you're gifted in an area, 17:30 you know, you're talented in an area. 17:32 Sometimes people will tell you, 17:33 "Oh, you're a good speaker, you're this, you're that." 17:36 And if you recognize it's all a gift from Him 17:41 and, you know, and then you're thanking Him 17:42 for that gift as well. 17:44 So it keeps you humble 17:45 because you realize everything we have is a gift. 17:48 Amen. Amen. 17:49 Another habit they talk about is. 17:52 Listen to this. They thank outside the box. 17:55 Usually we say think outside the box, 17:57 but they say they thank outside the box, 17:59 and the idea behind this is 18:01 we're accustomed to give Him thanks for good things, right? 18:03 But the grateful person, 18:05 they give thanks for unlikely things, 18:07 "Lord, I just lost my job today, 18:09 You have a reason for this. 18:10 I'm thankful for this." 18:12 A homeless person comes and asks you for money, 18:14 "Lord, thank You for that homeless person 18:15 asking me for money 18:17 because it helps me realize that there are people 18:18 who are needy out there and I have so much." 18:20 So the ideas that a grateful person 18:22 that develops this habit, 18:23 they think outside of the box. 18:26 They don't just give thanks for good things 18:28 but for the other things that happened in their lives, 18:30 the unfortunate circumstances 18:32 and that is the key to optimum mental health as well. 18:35 I think that helped me so much when my sister died... 18:40 You know, she was my baby sister, unexpected death, 18:44 and what helped me was that 18:48 it didn't take too long before I began to praise God 18:52 and thank Him for taking her and sparing her suffering. 18:56 And you know what? 18:58 That totally changed, 19:00 you know, when you're in that period of grief 19:03 when I could finally realize 19:04 and it helped when I saw her autopsy, 19:06 she had some issues we didn't know. 19:07 And I began thanking the Lord, 19:10 and when I did, that just really lifted me so much. 19:16 I lost my husband first, now I'm remarried, 19:18 but I lost him four years ago, 19:19 and I actually started a few months after he passed, 19:22 I started a gratitude journal. 19:24 Because I didn't want to just focus on, 19:27 you know, Al is no longer here, 19:28 we no longer have a ministry together. 19:30 I started to read the research and I said, 19:32 "Lord, I'm gonna apply this to myself." 19:34 And right before sundown each Friday night, 19:36 I would pull out my journal in and look back through that week 19:39 and write down all of the things 19:40 the Lord had done for me, 19:42 and it lifted my spirit each time I did this, Shelley. 19:45 It was a blessing. 19:46 And so when I'm working with people now 19:48 because I do phone counseling, 19:49 you know, and when I'm working with people, now, 19:51 many of them who are depressed, 19:52 I assign them that particular test. 19:54 I said, "I want you to start keeping a gratitude journal." 19:57 And many have reported to me 19:59 how that has uplifted their spirit 20:01 just keeping a gratitude journal. 20:02 So when you are in a state if you're grieving... 20:08 Yes. 20:09 How do you go about keeping a gratitude journal? 20:12 Explain that a little more? 20:14 Well, I think, I don't know 20:15 if it was this show or the previous one. 20:17 I ask God to help me to work outside of my feelings. 20:22 The feelings of grief can so overwhelm me 20:24 that I'm working based on my sadness, 20:27 my loneliness and all of that. 20:29 But I had to ask God in spite of how I'm feeling, 20:31 help me to be able to see and to write down the things 20:34 you've done for me and he did that. 20:36 So the key is working outside of your feelings. 20:39 Okay. And that's not easy. 20:41 Yeah. 20:43 But it can be done 20:44 just not letting those feelings dictate what you do, 20:46 dictate your choices. 20:48 So when you wake up feeling good, 20:50 you know, or the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day, 20:52 you can have gratitude 20:54 for that sun shining beautiful day. 20:56 Or if someone shows you 20:59 some particular caring act that, 21:03 you know, benevolent act toward you, 21:05 you can thank him for that. 21:06 Okay, I think I understand in that, 21:09 that's very important. 21:11 And I think that's why Paul said, 21:12 "Be thankful always." 21:14 That's right, I mean look at his life, 21:17 what he went through, I don't know what... 21:19 You're a Bible scholar more than I am, 21:21 but he talks about in parallels and journeyings, 21:24 you know, all those different things 21:25 that he went through. 21:27 When you think about him being inside of a prison 21:30 that he could not, a cell that in which he could not stand 21:34 and couldn't even really stretch his legs out. 21:37 Being beaten and thrown into a cell and can sing, 21:41 you know, this was somebody... 21:43 He had a real hand along gratitude. 21:45 He did have a real hand along gratitude. 21:47 So his example is one for us. 21:50 And then there's the last one that I have here, 21:52 we can go back and talk about some other things as well. 21:55 And I think actually this is the foundation, 21:58 studying and contemplating God's love. 22:00 Oh, I agree. 22:02 I think that is foundational. 22:03 I agree 100%. 22:05 The research shows 22:06 that involvement in religious systems 22:10 that emphasize love, compassion and forgiveness 22:14 is more helpful for mental health 22:16 than those that involve guilt and punishment. 22:19 Amen. 22:20 You know, there was a time 22:22 psychologists used to run from religion. 22:23 When I was going through my doctorial training, 22:25 I was a Christian, 22:27 but when I'd bring up something about Christianity, 22:29 "Oh, Magna, you know, that crutch you all rely on," 22:32 you know, woke, woke. 22:33 But now they can't run anymore. 22:35 It's just clear that religious involvement, 22:38 spiritual involvement 22:39 helps the mental health of a person. 22:42 And you know, when we're talking about mental health, 22:44 we're not necessarily saying that you're crazy out here. 22:46 It's a good point. 22:48 Because I remember when I grew up 22:52 in an environment in which I was taught, 22:55 I had to be perfect to be loved by God, 22:56 so I was given some wrong thinking if you will. 23:00 And so I finally just, almost gave up on the Lord, 23:05 but when I started really studying for myself, 23:08 you know, when you read Romans 5:8 23:11 that God demonstrated His love for this 23:14 that while we were yet sinners, 23:15 He sent His Son to die for us. 23:17 Romans 8:32 23:19 saying that if He did not spare His own Son, 23:21 how much more will They do for us. 23:23 When you begin to understand the love of God... 23:27 Amen. 23:28 Then you can absolutely, 23:30 I mean, it does totally change your mental health. 23:32 It does. It really does. 23:33 It's completely uplifting. It does. 23:37 And my heart goes out to people 23:38 who don't believe in a God, 23:40 you know, believing in a God, and not having that 23:44 to me is a real missing key ingredient for mental health. 23:48 I told someone recently who was saying that... 23:54 I forget how they put it but it was basically, 23:57 "Well, what if there is no heaven? 23:59 What if you are wrong?" 24:00 This was an atheist I was speaking with. 24:03 What if you're wrong? 24:05 You know what I told him? What you told him? 24:06 I said, "Even if it were in your... 24:10 If this were a fantasy..." 24:11 I said, "I'd rather live in my fantasy world." 24:13 Because I have such peace in my heart 24:16 and I know it's not fantasy, 24:18 but the point that I was making is 24:21 I'd still rather live a life as a Christian. 24:24 He said, "Yeah, but you don't get to do this and that." 24:25 I said, "But those things don't bring happiness." 24:28 You know, what brings happiness 24:30 is my faith and belief in the Lord, 24:32 so it is something that this contemplating 24:37 and studying about God's love is very important. 24:39 You know, it's so interesting you mentioned to him 24:41 these other things don't bring happiness, 24:43 and again remember the last show 24:44 we talked about what brings true happiness. 24:45 Yes. 24:47 You know, now with people when they give me 24:48 that kind of response, I can say, 24:49 well, the research shows those short term things 24:51 that I'm not doing, 24:52 they really don't bring true happiness. 24:54 But let me you, absolutely. 24:56 Let me ask you this question because I don't know 24:57 I think that I've ever really heard your testimony. 25:04 Did you grow up in a Christian home? 25:06 Yes, I did. All right. 25:07 So when did it become real for you? 25:09 When did it become more 25:11 than an inheriting a belief from your family? 25:12 In college. All right. 25:14 I attended Oakwood College, 25:15 and some of the sermons I heard there, 25:19 and some of my religion classes. 25:20 I started to say, "Wow! 25:22 This is really, expression go, this is deep." 25:26 You know, it's more 25:27 than just what I've heard from my parents. 25:30 Actually, I grew up in a home 25:31 where only one of my parents was a Christian actually. 25:34 It's more than what I've heard them say. 25:36 This is something that I can grab on for myself 25:38 and what was really encouraging to me 25:40 is seeing other students who came with that joy, 25:43 that peace, they have developed that relationship 25:46 and I looked at them and said, "Wow! 25:48 I want that too." 25:49 And I started to, you know, spend more time in God's Word 25:53 and got to know Him more of the personal savior. 25:55 So it happened for me in college 1980s, I remember. 25:58 So then you can personally testify to the fact 26:02 that studying and contemplating God's love 26:05 and I mean, I'm sure you've got case study 26:08 after case study on this, 26:09 you know, personal experiences and testimonies of others 26:14 who have had their lives totally changed. 26:17 Their mental health has been optimized 26:20 because they've come to accept the loving God. 26:22 Oh, yes, I can think of a story, 26:24 the same lady I mentioned earlier about 26:26 who started to forgive people, 26:29 who was sexually abused by so many people. 26:31 She had stopped going to church, 26:32 stopped believing in God, 26:33 and she started going back to church 26:35 and she came back and told me the peace 26:37 that she feels now knowing God. 26:39 Knowing His love for her in spite of the horrible things 26:42 that have been done to her 26:44 helped her health tremendously. 26:46 Well, let's just kind of 26:47 quickly review the nine points. 26:49 We've got the nine keys 26:52 to experiencing optimum mental health. 26:57 Taking care of your body, moving from the past, 27:03 aim for true happiness, 27:04 change your unhealthy thoughts, 27:06 engage in activities that help others, 27:08 increase your self-control, cultivate positive emotions, 27:11 express gratitude and study and contemplate God's love. 27:15 Amen. 27:17 Magna, you can probably talk for hours on any one of these. 27:20 I just want to thank you for coming 27:23 and we will put up her email address 27:26 which is info@bin... 27:32 Goodhealth.com Goodhealth.com 27:35 Bingoodhealth.com. Yes. 27:39 If you want to get in touch with her. 27:41 We just want to thank you so much 27:42 for joining us today. 27:44 May God richly bless you. |
Revised 2017-08-28