WHAT GOD'S WORD CAN DO FOR YOUR MENTAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH

JAMES 1:21-22 NKJ 
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

Ahh, the book of James.  Some have called this book the Proverbs of the New Testament.  The book of James is full of wisdom and can be rather pointed at times.  But it's a good pointed.   

In this passage today, James encourages believers to lay aside anything that is unclean or wicked.  Other translations use moral filth and evil.  James says to get rid of it and receive with humility God's word into your heart.  This word planted in your heart has the ability to save your soulish realm.   

James is not telling believers they need to get born again again.  The word soul here is referring to our inward man.  Our spirits have been recreated, but our minds, will, and emotions need help.   

The word save means to deliver, make whole, preserve from loss and destruction.  How many love the Lord and have been truly born again, a new creation in Christ, but struggle mentally and/or emotionally? 

James is saying that as we receive with humility God's word, not with doubt or skepticism, it will do a work in us.  A work in our minds and in our emotions. Don't ask me to explain exactly how this happens, but God's word is powerful.  God's word has been likened to medicine, to healing, and to seed.  God's word has amazing power to do a work in those who choose to receive it with faith.  To believe what it says.   

James then adds that we not only hear and receive, we put God's word into practice.  We become doers of God's word.  We act on what is implanted in our hearts, and great things happen.  That's how we came to Christ in the first place.  We heard the good news about Jesus and acted on it.  Maybe by prayer or a confession of our mouth.  Maybe it was kneeling or walking down an aisle in a church, but we became doers of that word, and the results were amazing.   

God's word is powerful.  God's word can fix broken places in our lives.  God's word must be received and acted upon in order to be activated in us. God's word has the power to transform us and make us strong and whole.   

Take it from someone who came from a family that dealt with depression.  Someone who suffered with on and off depression for years.  And from someone who has lived free from depression for many more years.  God's word can save and deliver and make whole from loss and destruction, your mental/emotional life.   

Praise God!