“God created each of us with spirit, body, and mind The call to care for each of them is sacred and divine.” Rev Sheila P Spencer.
Be Kind To Your Mind
“Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit that you received from God and that lives in you. “ 1 Corinthians 6:19
“God created each of us with spirit, body, and mind The call to care for each of them is sacred and divine.” Rev. Sheila P Spencer
God created us as interconnected masterpieces with spirit, body, and mind. It’s alignment. Because when one area suffers, the others feel it too. Spiritual exhaustion can affect the body. Mental distress can affect spiritual connection. Physical depletion can affect emotional regulation. They are interconnected parts of the same sacred vessel.
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that caring for our mental health is not separate from our spiritual journey; it is connected to the whole person God created us to be. God created us whole — spirit, body, and mind — and the call to care for each part of ourselves is sacred work.
God created us whole — spirit, body, and mind — and the call to care for each part of ourselves is sacred work.
In Matthew 22:37, Jesus reminds us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. What stands out to me in this scripture is that God desires all of us. Loving God with our minds means acknowledging that our mental and emotional well-being matter to God, too. If we are called to love God with all that we have, then we are also called to care for all that God has entrusted to us.
Another scripture that comes to mind is the reminder that our bodies are temples of God. Often, when we hear this scripture, we think only about physical health. However, the mind is also part of the body and part of the temple. Caring for the temple is not only about physical wellness, but also about mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Our mental health is connected to the whole temple God created.
Too often, mental health and spirituality are separated, as if we must choose one or the other. The truth is, they are aligned
Too often, mental health and spirituality are separated, as if we must choose one or the other. The truth is, they are aligned. God created us as whole beings, and caring for our mental health does not take away from our faith — it strengthens our ability to live fully, love deeply, and care for ourselves and others with compassion.
One of my favorite shirts says, “I love Jesus, my therapist, and drink my water.” It carries an important truth: prayer and therapy can coexist. Faith and mental health support are not enemies. God has gifted people with the call and training to care for both the spiritual and mental needs of others.
One of the elements I am especially grateful for is church communities that are helping lift the stigma surrounding mental health and creating space for these conversations, within the Black community. My mental health is just as precious in God’s eyes as my spiritual and physical health. I thank God for partners in ministry who have answered the call to minister the Gospel while also ministering through their work as therapists and counselors. I am grateful for those who use their gifts to help bridge the connection between the spiritual and the mental. We are called to love God with spirit, soul, and mind, and that means our mental health is part of that alignment.
Caring for your mental health involves small, everyday habits that nurture both your mind and body. Prioritizing sleep, staying connected to a community, seeking support from a mental health therapist, practicing gratitude, and caring for your physical health are all ways we care for the whole self. These practices remind us that mental health is deeply connected to our spirit and body.
Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed and experienced what it means when we care for one another in spirit, body, and mind. In a world where many people are carrying silent burdens, we must continue creating spaces where there is no shame or stigma around mental health conversations. Choosing to care for your mind is not weakness; it is an act of stewardship, healing, and wholeness.
Choosing to care for your mind is not weakness; it is an act of stewardship, healing, and wholeness.