Secrets to: Mental Well-Being

Mental health is an important area of life. The more we understand ourselves, the more we realise the significance of our mental health on overall behaviour, approach and attitude in life. Top newsmakers like Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Simone Biles and Prince Harry (to name a few), have expressed their concerns and struggles with mental issues openly.

Ihu Karaiti started his teachings with a sermon on the most sensitive topic of mental well being (Matthew 5:3-10). He knew that every person is in the search for happiness, and spoke on attitudes that bring happiness in one’s life. The principles given by Ihu Karaiti are the output of living Christ in one’s life. The results are not produced by one’s efforts to live a “said” life but by having that LIFE in us.

The eight principles which comprise the Beatitudes are the best prescription for mental and spiritual health.

Dr James Fisher, a well-known and widely travelled psychiatrist, went throughout the world looking for the positive qualities that make for good mental health. He said: “I dreamed of writing a handbook that would be simple, practical, easy to understand and easy to follow; it would tell people how to live - what thoughts and attitudes and philosophies to cultivate, and what pitfalls to avoid in seeking mental health. And quite by accident I discovered that such a work had been completed in the Beatitudes.”

What an amazing admission! Once a person absorbs the principles which underlie the Beatitudes - and lives by them - that person will never again fall prey to serious depression or despair.

BEATITUDE #1- BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

This beatitude refers to spiritual poverty (the need for Ihowā) - a willingness to throw away our own self-sufficiency and open our hands to receive Ihu Karaiti.

Luke 8:40-56 tells of one occasion when Ihu Karaiti passed along a road and a multitude thronged around Him. There was a wahine in deep need who came timidly through the crowd and touched His garment.

I encourage you to reach out and touch Karaiti in a definite and personal way. Touch Him now - today. Touch Him for forgiveness, for cleansing, for power over temptation, over fears, over anxieties, over everything that stands in the way of your personal happiness. As Ihu Karaiti gave Himself to those who needed Him when He was here on earth, so He does today.

BEATITUDE #2 - BLESSED ARE THEY WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE COMFORTED

The promise attached to this Beatitude is that you will be comforted. The word “mourn” has reference to more than just sorrowing over the death of one we aroha; it includes all those experiences in life where we may feel crushed, broken or pouri.

A better translation of this verse is: “Hari are those who know what pouri means, for they will be given courage and comfort.”

Why should people who are caught up in the throes of pouri experiences be hari? The conclusion of the verse gives the answer: ‘for they will be comforted’.

And what then? Out of the comfort they receive, they are able to give comfort to others. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says: ‘For Ihowā gives us comfort in all our trials so that we in turn may be able to give the same sort of strong sympathy to others in their troubles.’

BEATITUDE #3- BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE LAND

A universal truth - the universe does not respond to the aggressive, who approach it in a demanding spirit. It is the meekthose who are yielded, submissive and compliant - who inherit the earth.

The quality of meekness (humility or gentleness) described in this Beatitude is not the result of natural temperament, but comes from knowing Ihu Karaiti and abiding in Him.

Most of us feel that we are too aggressive by nature and would therefore not be able to be a meek and mild person. This is correct as it is not a matter of natural disposition but a quality produced by the Wairua Tapu.

Consider the powerful and extraordinary nature of David - and yet observe his meekness. Consider Paul the apostle - a master mind, a powerful and outstanding personality, and yet consider his great humility and gentleness. How did these men get to be like this? Not because of a natural proneness toward meekness, but because they were indwelt by Karaiti and the Wairua Tapu. Meekness is not a matter of genes; it is a matter of grace.

BEATITUDE # 4 – BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HUNGER & THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE SATISFIED

Everyone thirsts after something - success, fame, stable relationships, financial security, etc. But there is a thirst which is common to every human manawa - the thirst for happiness.

Notice, however, that Ihu Karaiti does not say: “Blessed are those who thirst for happiness”, but “Blessed (hari) are those who thirst for righteousness.”

Happiness, therefore, is a by-product. To experience happiness, one must focus on something other than its pursuit. Those who reach out for happiness are for ever unsatisfied - the more they strive, the less they find.

Happiness is not something you find, but something that finds you.

BEATITUDE #5- BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL, FOR THEY WILL BE SHOWN MERCY

What does it mean to be merciful? One of the best ways to understand the word is to compare it with grace. Someone has defined the two words thus: “Grace is associated with men in their sins. Mercy is associated with men in their misery.”

While grace looks down upon sin and seeks to save, mercy looks upon the miserable consequences of sin and seeks to relieve. Mercy is compassion plus action.

The Paipera Tapu teaches us that a true merciful person feels compassion and concern to such an extent that he is not content until he does something about the plight of the one with whom he comes in contact.

The story of the Good Samaritan is a classic illustration of being merciful. Others saw the tāne but did nothing to help him. The Samaritan, however, crossed the road, dressed his wounds, took him to an inn and made provision for his comfort. Mercy is compassion plus action.

BEATITUDE # 6 – BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN MANAWA, FOR THEY WILL SEE IHOWĀ

The concluding words of this Beatitude are often misunderstood. Many believe them to have reference to one’s eternal reward in heaven.

The thought contained in this Beatitude, however, is not so much related to seeing Ihowā in heaven, but to seeing Ihowā now in His creation. Not to see Ihowā is to fail to find the meaning of life and to see no purpose in anything. Such a condition can produce an emotional overload on the personality that leads inevitably to despair.

It has been said: “Those who can’t see the why, have little energy to cope with the what”. Seeing Ihowā is being acquainted with Him, sensing His acceptance, comprehending what it means to be forgiven and made anew.

BEATITUDE #7 – BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE TAMARIKI OF IHOWĀ

Peace-making is a positive attitude that produces good spiritual and mental health. The promise of the seventh Beatitude is that peacemakers ‘will be called tāma of Ihowā’. But why?

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones puts it like this: ‘The meaning of being called the tāma of Ihowā is that the peacemaker is a tamaiti of Ihowā and that he is like his Pāpā.’ If I were to pick out the one verse that most perfectly expresses the meaning of the Christian gospel, it would be this:

“Arā, i roto te Atua i a te Karaiti e hohou ana i tā te ao rongo ki a ia, kore ake e whakairia ki a rātou ō rātou hē; ā kua tukua mai ki a mātou te kupu mō te houhanga rongo.” 2 Koriniti 5:19

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19, RSV)

Those who are inwardly reconciled to Ihowā and seek to reconcile others to Him and to each other are the healthiest and the happiest people on earth.

What do we conclude from this? We are most like God when we are bringing people together in reconciliation, and those who try to reconcile others are doing the work of heaven - for it is heaven’s work to reconcile us.

BEATITUDE #8 – BLESSED ARE THEY WHO ARE PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

How does this Beatitude contribute to our good mental and spiritual health? It does so by encouraging us to stand up and be counted.

The famous missionary doctor and scientist Dr Albert Schweitzer, when addressing a group of medical men in Africa many years ago, said: “You cannot be healthy unless you stand for something - even at a cost”.

The person who unashamedly identifies with Ihu Karaiti and stands up for Him knowing that their stand will produce, in one form or another, inevitable persecution experiences an inner release from fear that affects every part of the personality in the most positive way.

Have you thought about your soul?

Have you ever stopped to wonder What this life is all about? Why you’re here and where you’re going When your lease of time runs out? Maybe you’ve been far too busy, Trying hard to reach your goal; Would you let me ask you kindly, Have you thought about your soul?

You may reach the highest portals, And your dreams may all come true, Wealth and fame may be your portion, And success may shine on you. All your friends may sing your praises, Not a care on you may roll; What about the great tomorrowHave you thought about your soul?

Don’t forget your days are numbered Though you may be riding high, But, like all of us poor mortals, Someday, sure you have to die. Your success and fame and glory, Won’t be worth the bell they toll; Let me ask you a question, Have you thought about your soul?

If you’ve never thought it over, Spend a little time today; There is nothing more important, That will ever come your way, Than the joys of sin forgiven, And to know you’ve been made whole, In the name of Christ my Saviour, Stop and think about your soul.

Cease using up precious energy trying to find ways to make it through this world. Follow the blueprint Ihowā made as laid out in these eight Beatitudes and yours will be a life which, through the psychology of Ihu Karaiti, will bring you maximum effectiveness with minimum weariness. Choose any other way and you will experience minimum effectiveness with maximum weariness.

Article by Dr Avish Petras Pastor Riverside Christian Church Whanganui