"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." -- 1 Peter 5:8
Hello...Thanks Doug
When Peter wrote these words, he wasn't describing a paranoid state of mind -- he was describing a prepared one. Being alert and sober-minded means living fully awake -- alert in God's love and clear-minded in Christ's truth.
I learned that lesson the hard way after my time in the Air Force. When I retired after two decades of service, I thought I was good to go. I'd been trained to stay sharp, follow procedures, stay mission-focused, and even trust in God. But mentally and spiritually, I let my guard down. I believed I was living for Christ, but in truth, I was living for the idea of Christianity. That's something a lot of us have to grapple with -- thinking we're spiritually fit when we've actually gone stiffnecked or soft between the ears and hardhearted or spineless in the soul.
My thinking had become unhealthy -- rigid, self-reliant, and clouded by legalism, favoritism, and religiosity mistaken for faith. Soon after, life fell apart. My mental health deteriorated, my emotions were all over the place, and my spiritual compass spun out of control. My heart felt shattered, and my soul was lost.
It was in that difficult season that I learned the difference between religion and Christ-likeness. Religion told me to perform -- check the boxes, follow the rules, and look holy doing it. Christ told me to transform -- to love unconditionally (yes, even the people who annoy me), practice quiet disciplines that build character, and become more fully human through the perspective of the one true God.
With help from my mentors, Dr. Ray W. Lincoln and Dr. Henry Cloud -- two men who know a thing or two about the mind and spirit -- I began to think about my thinking. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Over time, I rebuilt my mindset from the inside out, and that process gave birth to what I now call the HEALTHY THINKER model straight from Scripture:
A Healthy Thinker is someone who stays both alert in God's love and sober-minded in Christ's truth. They don't let emotions or circumstances drive the day -- they let faith do it. They live with awareness, humility, mental discipline, and yes, a little fortitude, not out of fear, but out of true faith -- the kind that steadies your hand and strengthens your heart when life gets messy.
Here's how I break it down with the summary verse of "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." -- Romans 12:2
Renewed thinking leads to renewed living. This is the heartbeat of the Healthy Thinker.
Car analogy: Many Christians have never truly experienced life the way it was meant to be lived from a biblical perspective. Why? Think of it like this:
Imagine you're excited to drive a car. You just want to enjoy the ride, feel the wind in your hair, and experience the freedom of the open road. But before you even get behind the wheel, someone stops you and says, "Wait! Before you can drive, you must first become an expert mechanic. You need to tear the car apart, rebuild it from scratch, and only if it runs perfectly will you be allowed to drive."
That's what religion often does to people. Instead of allowing them to experience the journey of faith -- the relationship with God, the joy, and the transformation -- it burdens them with a long list of rules, requirements, and qualifications. But Christianity was never meant to be about earning the right to the journey; it's about stepping into it and letting God guide you along the way.
H - Humble vs. Haughty: Choosing grace over ego. (James 4:6)
E - Effective vs. Catastrophic: Focusing on what works instead of what worries. (James 1:22)
A - Aimful vs. Aimless: Living with purpose, not randomness. (Proverbs 4:25)
L - Like Christ vs. Like the World: Patterning your thoughts after His teachings. (The Gospels)
T - Thoughtful vs. Hateful: Letting kindness steer your words and actions. (James 1:19)
H - Heartfelt vs. Heartless: Keeping compassion alive, even in conflict. (Ephesians 4:32)
Y - Yielding vs. Unyielding: Surrendering to God instead of clinging to pride. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Now, identifying unhealthy thinking is only step one. You've got to retrain your brain. That's what it means to be "sober-minded" and how mental health is attained!
Here's how to begin adopting a Healthy Thinker's mindset if you decide to use this approach.
T - Think about your thinking. What's running through your mind all day? Are your thoughts driven by truth or fear? (2 Corinthians 10:5)
H - Halt negative self-talk. Kick that inner critic to the curb and replace it with God's promises. (Psalm 19:14)
I - Identify your triggers. Know what knocks you off course -- and prepare for it. (1 Peter 5:8)
N - Narrow your focus. Stay fixed on what's true, noble, proper, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8)
K - Keep perspective. The storm might be real, but it's not forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
E - Engage in God's Word. Regularly engaging with God's Word trains your mind to see clearly and walk confidently. (Psalm 119:105)
R - Reframe your thoughts. When life says, "You're finished," God says, "I'm just getting started." (Romans 12:2)
To be alert is to live awake in God's love. To be sober-minded is to think clearly through the mind of Christ. Together, they create a mindset and attitude of readiness -- a life equipped with the Full Armor of God. When you learn to think like God, you don't just wear the armor; you become the kind of warrior who knows how to use it and lives it out.
So, take a moment this week and check your thought life. Where have unhealthy patterns -- fear, pride, comparison, or negativity -- started to creep in? Ask God to renew your mind and align your thoughts with His truth.
And remember -- every spiritual battle begins in the mind, and victory always comes through clarity in Christ. So this week, soldier, remember your charge in life:
Stay strong. Shine bright. Suit up!