Protect Your Sanity!

When I was a little girl, my mother went shopping and shortly after her shopping spree, a huge furniture truck backed up into our driveway and delivered the most beautiful China Cabinet I thought I would ever see. But what went inside that piece of furniture was even more beautiful and more precious. When my mother placed her expensive set of precious China in her new China Cabinet, she made it very clear to me and my siblings that we were not to open the doors of that Cabinet.

Precious China is just one of those things we sometimes place under the umbrella of our protection. In fact, it’s a woman’s nature to nurture and protect. But, my challenge to you today is, instead of focusing on protecting your fine China, your pet, your family, or your career, take time and focus on protecting your sanity. It’s more precious than fine China.

Ways to protect your sanity.

1. Guard Your Heart
“Keep your heart with all diligence. For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).Protecting your sanity means protecting your heart, your mind, the place from which your life is created. To guard your heart is to be selective about what you allow to enter and linger in your heart. Manage anger. Learn to forgive. Know when to take a stand, and when to stand down. And by all means, know that it’s ok to say no when you’re asked to do something and your plate is already full!

2. Make Time For Yourself
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Protecting your sanity means making time to nurture your mind, body and spirit.

It’s early Friday morning, and I’m about to pack up my things, leave my beautiful, plush hotel room here in Downtown Dallas, and head back home to Houston to my husband and family. This was a getaway trip both me and my husband agreed I needed!!

Protecting your sanity can certainly mean getting away from it all. Plan a day at the spa. Or, better yet, plan a day to do nothing! Whatever works for you, by all means, just do it! Make time for yourself.

3. Feed the Spirit
"And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:39). If you’re not regularly sitting at the feet of Jesus, you’re not doing too good of a job of protecting your sanity. It’s a requirement. Spend time studying God’s word, meditating on the Scriptures and communicating with God through prayer.

When you make an effort to protect your sanity, the Holy Spirit will join in and cover you with His protection, helping you recognize and enjoy the benefits of a healthy, sane, spirit-filled mind!

Tune in Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. to Houston’s 100.7 FM, or listen online at kkht.com, and hear the full lesson on “Protect Your Sanity!”