The Beauty of a Sound Mind

6/17/2024

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

What does it mean to have “a sound mind” and a mind that is “self-controlled?”

σωφρονέω sōphroneō
be reasonable, be sensible; be of sound mind
→ σωφροσύνη. σωφρονίζω sōphronizō
bring one to one’s senses;
→ σωφροσύνη. σωφρονισμός, οῦ, ὁ sōphronismos
admonition; self-discipline

The Verse to Timothy came to mind as I was speaking with God, and looking out the window. A scenario played out in my mind where someone was “praying” and another asked them, “Are you just having a prayer time, going through the motions pleasing yourself with a ritual, or are you really talking to the King of Kings without shallow ritual?”

The person who had been “praying,” upon being asked this probing question, started spinning, spinning, spinning. “What if I am not really talking to God? What if I am just going through a ritual? How do I do the real thing? How do I know if I’m not doing the real thing? What does everyone else do? Are they just fooling themselves also? Are they better than me? Am I a loser? Well I’m trying! Maybe I’m just fooling myself? This is so hard!”

“Am I really saved, or not really saved?”

These questions and 10,000 more are the loops we can get ourselves into. Or we can just close our eyes and wave our hands over any concerns or questions and pretend they are not there—just shut down any thoughts that can hurt a little bit. Which is the same thing as getting in a loop: blinding ourselves to any real, important or deep or convicting thought because we don’t like the pain.

KNOW THIS: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

***“The basic meaning of sound mind appears in Mark 5:15 parallel Luke 8:35 in the verb σωφρονέω, be in one’s right mind, be normal—in contrast to the mania of the possessed man described in Mark 5:3-5.” ***

It turns out the Greek word for “self controlled” or “sound mind” is best defined by its opposite, rather than these other over-simplified English equivalent attempts.

A “sound mind” in the Greek, is a mind defined by the opposites of Mark 5:3-5, and 15.

“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

“Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his ‘right mind.’”

1 Timothy, Titus, and other places insist that leaders should not tolerate loose wild thoughts, but should instead be the opposite of the man of the tombs with a controlled mind. Likewise with the young, and older women teaching younger women this “Refuse to let your mind spin or block out!”

Do you panic or spin when there are reasons for you to be convicted or challenged? Or... Do you block out any conviction or challenge, because it’s uncomfortable?

KNOW THIS: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Be the opposite of “the man of the tombs” and let Jesus touch your mind. Be clothed and in your right mind when faced with problems or conviction or challenges or confusion. Do not tolerate spin spin spin, guilt, fear, or numbness.

Power! Love! A healed sound mind! Pursue—rather than spin or block!

God gave you and is giving you the beauty of a powerful loving steady calm disciplined mind in the face of ANY struggle or confusion or conviction. Work it out! Peace, shalom. It is good, not scary.

The sparrow and the lily.

•  A Sound Mind