The Mental Battle

Cancer Advice

If you are like me, you have probably had a few “advice” givers. Who do you listen to? There were people who approached me with a “cure,” a sure way to feel better, alternative medicine options and what to eat. Many shared their own cancer experiences. All this can be helpful, but ultimately, you have to decide what is best for you.

How do you do that? Pray. The Bible says in James 1:5 “If you lack wisdom; ask of God who gives to all men liberally.” Of course, I have some advice for you as well.

1. Read God’s word and pray.

Why? It will direct your steps.

Psalm 119:133 “Direct my footsteps according to your word.”

It will give you hope.

Psalm 119:77 “I have put my hope in your word.”
Psalm 50:15 “Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor me.”

2. Ask others to pray for you.

It sure is comforting to have many others lifting you up during this hard time.

2 Corinthians 9:14 “In their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you.”

3. Surround yourself with those who will support and comfort you.

God will truly bless you through these people. Try to stay away from those who would pull you down and drain you. You are very weak and just need support at this time.

4. Keep a positive attitude.

This is why I wrote these devotionals, so that you could refocus on God’s power and not on your problems.

5. Get outdoors if you possibly can.

I found it helped my energy level as well as my mental attitude to get outside. To focus on the beauty of His creation energized me.

6. Exercise.

This may seem impossible when you barely have enough energy to walk around the house, but I found if each day I tried to increase my exercise it helped my spirits. I would just walk across the house, and then work up to walking to the mailbox, then around the block, then around it twice. They were small achievements, but measurable and attainable.

7. Praise and thank God.

That is what we were created to do and when we are thanking Him, we are not focused on our own problems. There are many verses that tell us to praise God even before the answers to our prayers are visible.

Psalm 81:6-7 “I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labor. You called in your pain; I got you out of a bad place, answered you from where thunder hides.”
Job 11:13,16 “If you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hand to him, you will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.”
Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”
Psalm 64:10 “Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!”

8. Reach out to others.

Looking for ways to help someone else will help you get your mind off your own dilemma.

9. Consider eating plans that will make you healthy.

However, do not make extreme changes. Radical changes are usually not the best at this time.

10. Listen to music.

I really felt close to God when listening to music or singing in church. I really liked the song by Lincoln Brewster- “Everlasting God” and the chorus “Blessed be your Name.” Find a song to sing, it will be worth your time.

11. Find ways to relax, escape and enjoy life.

If you can’t keep up your very busy schedule, find some good books to read, sew, knit, watch movies, spend time with those you love. Some books I would recommend include: Serenity-Reflections and Scripture on the Serenity Prayer, Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman, God is in the Small Stuff, by Bruce and Stan. I also spent many hours reading Lauraine Snelling fiction and worked jigsaw puzzles with my family. I pray you find ways to spend this time that will bring you joy.

12. Rest.

Slowing down so your body can heal was very eye opening to me. I didn’t realize how busy I was! Finding contentment in a slower paced life was a wonderful blessing to me. At first I rebelled against it, because I was in such a habit of rushing, but I began to see that God was able to talk with me when I was stopped long enough to listen. A miraculous peace began to invade my life!

Psalm 131:2 “I have stilled and quieted my soul.”
Psalm 62: 5, 8 “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. Trust Him at all times, pour out your hearts to him.”
Psalm 59: 9 “God’s constant love is our place of shelter in a wicked world.”

I pray that some of this advice will bless you.