I wonder if a lot of mental unrest and disorder is caused by not knowing or applying principles of wisdom, particularly the wisdom of the Bible. Here are some thoughts on this important topic.

First, a definition of wisdom. I found this written down in an old journal of mine, attributed to Ted Broer, the fitness and nutrition expert. This quote may not be verbatim, but here's the gist. "Wisdom is the repeated, consistent application of knowledge." It is not enough to simply know the facts. We must act on them, and act on them consistently.

What happens when we don't apply what we know, when we don't act and act consistently according to the facts we have? We crash, don't we? But what makes us resist acting on the facts? For instance, we know that regular moderate exercise will help our depression and anxiety as well as our physical well-being. We read articles that reveal that scientific studies show that exercise has a positive effect on mental outlook as well as physical energy.

In other words, regular exercise helps depression! Yet do we act, and act consistently on that knowledge, and exercise? Or do we make excuses or procrastinate? (By the way, the same thing is true for keeping a consistent sleep schedule. Getting plenty of sleep helps reduce stress, brighten your outlook, make you more mentally alert, and even helps your metabolism!)

Proverbs 9:12 says "If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer." Might we fall into the category of mockers when we don't apply what we know?

Here's another verse about wisdom that I particularly like. "Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?" (Proverbs 17:16) Throwing money at a problem does no good if you don't apply what you know you need to do. Have you paid for counseling? Do you follow the advice of the therapist and really try to do what you need to do to fix the problem?

Jesus said "Wisdom is justified (or proved right) of all her children." What does that mean? It means that a life of wisdom will be proven right by the future results. Or, more specifically, if you get enough sleep and exercise judiciously and regularly, you will start to feel better emotionally. You will start to have more energy and a more upbeat view of things.

There are many truths (facts) in the Bible that will help improve one's mental health when they are applied consistently. For instance, replacing fear with hope and faith...letting go of bitterness to forgive our enemies...being content and thankful instead of grumbling. A regular schedule of Bible study, with a heart to apply it, will help anyone's mental well-being.