Emotional Health 101

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8
Eyes and ears, where are they? What are we repeating? The news, the daily troubles?  Does this break our heart and bring us down. Our emotional health needs a lift.
The Holy Book is our instruction manual, we are instructed to “Speak to one another in psalms and hymns.” Emotional health often comes when we go outside, but what if we are not able at this time. This hymn, I believe is the best remedy I can find:
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought. (This is My Father’s World, Maltbie Babcock).
God is in control. We all know that we’re not. But we so often try to be, in control of everything.  The burdens are great, the cares are heavy, but today’s hymn lifts our eyes and ears out of doors, to help us let go, and let God lift us.
This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
“He makes us to lie down on pastures of green,”(Psalm 23). Oh, how we need to be made to lie down at times, that we take in the beauty and rest in the beauty and power of His creation.
Jesus warned us, In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
If God says to speak in hymns, then perhaps there’s healing when our ears hear aloud these  thoughts:
This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.
How hopeful are the words, reminding with melody that faithful is the Lord.
We must rest in God’s nature and faithfulness, and as Paul the Apostle exhorted for us to “rejoice in the Lord!
“It is a safeguard for you,” Paul writes in Phil. 3:1.
Help for frazzled nerves, to read or sing aloud, and also to meditate on Psalm 23. Stop and read the familiar sounds, this is where God’s glory abounds: