Inmans

Are you ever bothered by unwanted thoughts? Maybe when scared or nervous, or you can’t stop thinking about something someone said? A helmet will protect your skull or even your brain from being physically hurt, but what if there was a helmet that could protect your mind?

In the Bible’s book of Ephesians, we are instructed to put on the full armor of God, and specifically:

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Is the helmet of salvation an invisible magic tool that succeeds where tin foil helmets fail?

Kind of. Whenever someone becomes a follower of Christ they begin a process of whole-self renewal (see 2Cor 5:17). Our minds can be renewed! (Rom 12:2).

Of course the equation includes us and our own decisions. Though we can’t always choose what thoughts we will be exposed to, we still get to decide what we think about and focus on.

The Biblical letter to the Philippians has some great advice regarding mental health:

‘Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things.’

I tell my kids that they can ‘change the channel in their minds’. And, I know sometimes troubling thoughts can keep coming back. That’s when there is strength in numbers. Dark thoughts aren’t as powerful when they are exposed to the light of day and people we trust can help us win the battle, too.

Putting on the helmet of Salvation isn’t as easy or as naive as a tin foil helmet. It’s not a two-sentance prayer I do once and then forget about. Like a soldier who has to put his armor on every day, it is representative of an on-going, conscious effort get good stuff in and filter out the bad, remembering what God has brought to the table.