Are you mentally fit to do what it is you are called to be? What happens with and in your mind determines what you do and how you show up in what you are called to be.

As a church, we are in a series called Get Your Life. This week we are focusing on the topic: Get Your Life In Shape Mentally. Last week we saw through scriptures what Fit For The Call Spiritually means and why it is important to be spiritually fit. In this blog, we are going to see through scriptures what it means to be Fit For The Call Mentally and why mental fitness is important. 

Let's make sure we are on the same page. What does mental and fitness mean? What does it mean to be fit and in shape?

• Mental
  • relating to the mind
• Fitness
  • the quality of being suitable to fulfill a particular role or task.
• Fit as an adjective. 
  • to be of suitable quality, standard, or type to meet the required purpose. 
• In shape
  • to be in good physical condition.

Therefore, to be fit for the call means to be suitable to fulfill the particular roles, tasks, and responsibilities seen in your areas of influence and impact as assigned and determined by God. 

We often hear about mental health and see different efforts in education and different professions to address concerns associated with the topic, but what does the Word of God have to say about our minds? 

For the live YouTube message this blog is derived from, see the embedded video at the end of this article.

Fit For The Call Mentally

You must first understand that your belief system determines what you actually do. We do not act beyond what we believe.

Fitness Mindset

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you are going to be mentally fit, you must first address your mindset. If you do not believe you can do what God has called you to do, you won't do it or pursue it. Yes, it is a fact that when you pursue something God has called you to do, you cannot do it in your own strength. It is through Christ and Him strengthening you as you abide in Him that you re actually able to do what you are called to do. Thus, you have to stay connected to The Vine as we discussed last week, or else you won't be able to do anything in your calling you were predestined to. 

Philippians 4:13 is an often quoted verse. You need to stop just saying it and start truly believing it. If you truly believe this verse, you would not be as fearful of, or held back in, your pursuit of what you are called by God to do in the various areas of impact and influence in your life. 

Look at the memorial stones in your life! God is faithful and continues to be faithful, even in the obstacles and challenges in your life along the journey. When you take time to reflect on Who God is, what He has done, and what He can do in and through you, you can obtain the right mindset knowing you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you because you know He is with you and has called you to do it.

Fitness Expectation

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Being mentally fit for what you are called to be also requires you to have the right expectations. You have to know that all things work and will work for your good as you pursue and do what God has called you to. How and why do you know this? Because you are called according to His purpose. You are his workmanship. Your calling is embedded in His purpose as far as what He wants to do in the Earth. All things has to work because as you abide in Him, He wants the work to be accomplished through you. Therefore, nothing can happen to you that won't be used for you to accomplish the good work He has for you.

Dare to believe and watch it all work, the good and bad. Raise your faith and expectation, not just when things are going good, but when things appear to be bad or challenging. Stop getting caught off guard by challenges, obstacles, and difficulties in life. In Christ we are not our own. Instead of thing happening to us, in all things it's happening for us. 

Mental Focus

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you are going to mentally fit for what you are called to be in this season and the seasons to come, you must realize that your mindset determines focus. If your mind is on fleshly desires and pursuits, you are distracted. Your focus is off. Because it is of God and from God, your calling is of the Spirit. Therefore, one of the things your mind needs to be on is what you are called to be.

Are you distracted? Get your focus back. Stop being distracted and led away from what you are suppose to be pursuing and doing.

Mental Exercise

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To be mentally fit for your calling, you have to regularly engage in mental exercise. With so many voices, influences, and impressions around us, our thinking and minds can be all over the place. Mental focus requires intentional mental exercise.

Filter everything through the Holy Spirit. Bring down every lie and imagination of failure, defeat, and destruction associated with your calling. What imaginations keep coming in your mind that need to be cast down? Don't let lies, negative thoughts, and wrong ideas live or settle in your mind. What did God say? What does His Word say? What is truth? If what is in your mind or what you are thinking don't align with truth or The Truth, you have to cast it down. 

Arrest it before you say it! Stop letting idol words exit out of your mouth. What you speak has power. It has the power to create and manifest. Stop saying...

• I'm stupid.
• I'm an idiot.
• I'm lazy.
• I'm not good enough.
• I can't....
• I'll never...

You know the lies and limitations you allow to come out of your mouth. Stop it! As my wife Tiffany Kilpatrick said to our girls during our time on this topic: ​​The things that you think bear fruit in what you say. Evaluate what is manifesting in your life because you are speaking the wrong language.

Mental Training

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Being mentally fit for what you are called to do requires mental training. If you don’t train your mind to think on what is pure, lovely, holy, righteous, excellent, or worthy of praise, you will naturally think on that which is opposite of those things. Our natural eyes will lead us to think on that which we are commanded not to think on. When we neglect mental training, we get distracted or overwhelmed in the pursuit and execution of our calling.

Mental training helps us maintain the right mindset and perspective God wants us to have. Mental training is a guard to our faith. It helps us not to lower our expectations and lose focus. While mental exercise tears and breaks apart the things we are not suppose to keep, mental training gives us what should remain in our belief system. 

Mental Form

“A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

To be fit for the call mentally requires proper form and application. You have to not just know what to think on or cast down but also how those instructions apply to you and your life. You can't just settle for knowing what the Word of God says, you have to be knowledgeable about how it applies to your life and be wise enough to take action and live it out. You must gain the knowledge and wisdom needed to be excellent in what you are called to be. This goes back to being spiritually fit when we discussed the importance of not just hearing but doing what He says. Discern the proper form and application mentally so you can act and move forward in your calling appropriately.

Mental Transformation 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Becoming mentally fit for the call demands and requires the renewal of you mind. This is not a once in your life transformation. It is a continual process. What’s the will of God? That changes from season to season, situation to situation, and circumstance to circumstance. Without your mind being constantly renewed, you won't properly discern what the will of God is, especially as it related to what you are called to be. You will end up listening to others, the world, or your flesh and find yourself on the wrong path or journey.

This is why mental training and exercise is so important. Your mind needs to be in proper shape to be renewed. Proper mental formation then allows you to experience true mental transformation. How do you know you are mentally fit? Are you seeing and experiencing transformation? How do you know you are experiencing it? Testing. Stop resisting and avoiding the tests that will allow your mind to be properly transformed and fit for what you are called to be. 

Spiritual and Mental Fitness Combined

Spiritual fitness and mental fitness work together. Hear from God what He has called you to be and then actually believe what He says. Mental fitness is seen in your faith. Faith is demonstrated through your obedience. Don't just know spiritually what the truth and His will for your life is. Mentally believe it and intentionally engage in the work to actually be able to do so.

Fit For The Call Mentally Recap

What it means to be mentally fit and why:

1. Fitness Mindset: Believe you can do it.
1. Why: You don't act outside of your belief system.
2. Fitness Expectations: Believe it all works, good and bad.
1. Why: Instead of challenges and obstacles being a hindrance, they become instances that are used to work for our good.
3. Mental Focus: Think on things of Spirit.
1. Why? Your will be distracted and focused on wrong things if you are not.
4. Mental Exercise: Mange and filter your thoughts.
1. Why? It becomes a preventative measure that helps you not to lose your focus.
5. Mental Training: Think on that which is good.
1. Why? It becomes a shield against distractions and delay.
6. Mental Form: Grow in knowledge and wisdom.
1. Why? It builds confidence and faith through knowing what it true/right and acting on it.
7. Mental Transformation: Renew your mind.
1. Why? You need to be able to discern the will of God, especially as it relates to your calling.

Dealing With Unbelief?

Don’t beat yourself up if you are struggling in your faith

"And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:23-24

Just like the man asked Jesus for help, so can you ask Him for help in growing your faith, belief, and mind. He is is faithful. By His Spirit, with your submission and obedience, your faith and mindset will grow. You will become more mentally fit to advance in what you are called to be. You don't have to do it alone. He is your ever present help, even in the need of an increase in your belief. 

Get fit for the call not just spiritually, but also mentally, so you can actually be what He has called you to be.

Fit For The Call Live Replay