Mental Fitness

BY DORAL PULLEY 

“We have the mind of Christ.”  I Corinthians 2:16

Just as God is Father (Divine Mind), Son (Perfect Idea) and Holy Spirit (Complete Expression), we are three-fold beings: Spirit, soul and body (I Thessalonians 5:23).  We are Spirit. We have a soul and each of us lives in a body.  For the next two weeks, we will be dealing with 2 aspects of the soul: Mental F1tness and Emotional F1tness so that we can be stable and balanced.

One way to be Mentally F1T is by thinking before we speak especially when people are asking us questions.  Jesus Christ exemplified Mental F1tness by giving the appropriate response to his challengers about some of the most controversial issues: the Commandments, adultery, the Sabbath, marriage, divorce, taxes and identity.  He always gave people something to think about that opened their minds and expanded their consciousness.

Today, we too are faced with “hot topics’ and we can respond with the same wisdom, knowledge and understanding that Jesus Christ did. Through prayer and meditation, we have the ability to think on a higher level and empower others to do the same (Philippians 2:5).

Another way to manifest mental fitness is by focusing on positive thoughts instead of negative ones.  Every thought is a prayer.  Through our thinking we connect with God and attract or repel our good.  Whatever we focus on grows and multiplies in lives, world and affairs.  We cannot stop thoughts from coming to our minds any more than we can stop birds from flying over head.

Nevertheless, just as we can stop birds from planting nests on our heads, we can decide what ideas we will give our attention. Until we give an idea energy and attention, it is only a suggestion or an invitation. Invitations and suggestions can be accepted or rejected. It is important that our thoughts are governed by the Holy Spirit to ensure so that we are being our best selves and living our best lives (Philippians 4:8).

I challenge each of you this week is to do some type of brainteaser to keep your minds sharp.  Some suggestions are doing Sudoku, learning a new word a day, crossword puzzles, learning a new application on your telephone/computer or some other game that requires you to really think.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity Temple of Truth Church, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.