According to the Canadian Association of Mental Health, mental illness affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths for 15-24 year olds. And by age 40, about fifty percent of people in my country will have or have had a mental illness.
That’s why it’s important to be proactive about our mental well-being and to be open about it.
One of the things that we can do to help with that is to worship intentionally and regularly.
Some of you already do that. Some of you never do that. Some of you do it occasionally. Some of you don’t know if it makes a difference or what it has to do with mental health.
So let me give your brain something to chew on.
Worship draws our eyes back to the awesome permanence and goodness of God. Maybe that’s why a 2017 study out of Vanderbilt University says that non-worshipers have higher levels of stress and more risks to their health.
Psalm 96:9 says: “Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness…” That reminds us that worship is about fixing our gaze on God; it’s about him (not just us); it’s about how great God is (not about how good we are); and worship reminds us about the God who never leaves or fails us, even through the jilting ups and downs of life.
It’s harder to get pulled down by negative things if your mind is more frequently focused on the one big awesome thing.
Worship isn’t a one-stop cure-all for all your woes. But it’s an important piece of the puzzle—which, when assembled, shows a healthier and better grounded you.
Worship intentionally and regularly.
By Matthew Ruttan
- The “Up!” book is being released on October 30th! I’m really excited about that. If this is new information to you, read more about the book, some endorsements, and where the profits are going here.
- Bible verses are from the New International Version (NIV).
