A Sound Mind

When I was a child growing up in the mountains of Sisters, Oregon I remember a prayer my mom and dad would pray over me and my siblings every single night. They would place their hand over our heads and pray 2 Timothy 1:7 out loud:

“For God has not given (you) a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Power. Love.
A Sound Mind.

Over the past weeks, in our community as well in our world, I have sensed a battle raging for the territory of our minds. Whether it be anxiety, depression, worry, social anxiety… these are mechanisms of the spirit of fear that can wreak havoc on our perceptions of reality, and for us as believers rip off the inheritance we have as powerful children of God with the spirit of Jesus Christ dwelling within us.

I know that I have had, even in the past weeks, moments of battling dark thoughts that I know are not from me or God’s spirit, and I know many others who are facing this reality. The power of this scripture has shifted my thinking and this week I have watched as myself and other friends have felt giant weights, like a ton of bricks, come off of our chests.

I pray this for us today – for the power of 2 Timothy to take root in our spirits and for the heaviness of depression and anxiety to fall off you today in Jesus’ name. I believe that generational chains of suicidal thoughts, futility, worry, anxiousness and cycles of depression are breaking off your life even as you read this. The Spirit inside you, the SAME spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is working in you today to free you from every thought that has held you captive.

Today I want to declare these words from the song “Sound Mind” over you.

In the chaos You are the peace
In my suffering You’re here with me
In the darkness You never leave
God of mercy You’re walking with me

I surrender anxiety
All the striving has to cease
In this moment, You’re still the King
This is the gift You are giving to me

A sound mind for the spirit of fear
A sound mind so that I can see clearly
A sound mind, Your Spirit is here
A sound mind, a sound mindThere’s a table where we meet
In the presence of my enemies
I will listen, I will feast
On every word You are speaking to me

I remember Who You are
You’re my fortress and my God
I will stand in authority
In Jesus’ Name all this darkness will flee

A sound mind for the spirit of fear
A sound mind so that I can see clearly
A sound mind, Your Spirit is here
A sound mind, a sound mindYou saved, healed, delivered me
Jesus’ blood wash over me
Command my soul awake, arise
Use each breath to prophesy, I prophesyA sound mind for the spirit of fear
A sound mind so that I can see clearly
A sound mind, Your Spirit is here
A sound mind, a sound mind

We agree for you, your family, and your communities to stand in complete mental wholeness in Jesus’ mighty name. We prophesy your freedom- we speak it into being- You have a spirit of love and power, not of fear. 

Your mind is a safe place.
May our minds be washed in the freedom that is rightfully ours,

“Sound Mind” lyrics by Melissa Helser