Bible Passage: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:22-23
On June 11, 1997, the Chicago Bulls played against the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The Bulls and Jazz were tied 2-2 in the series, making the game incredibly important.
Unfortunately, the Bulls’ superstar Michael Jordan became severely sick with flu-like symptoms before the game. He was devastatingly weak, dehydrated, and wasn’t sure he’d even be able to play.
Still, he determined that his team needed him and played, scoring 38 points, with 7 rebounds and 5 assists, leading the Bulls to a 90-88 victory over the Jazz. The picture that captured the spirit of this iconic “Flu Game” was that of Scottie Pippen helping the exhausted Jordan back on the bench after the incredible victory.
Every man will face moments in his life when there are discrepancies between what’s going on inside him vs. the needs of the moment.
Self-discipline describes our ability to respond effectively despite our contradicting feelings.
In today’s Scripture passage, we find the Apostle Paul reminding his spiritual son, Timothy, that the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us, is the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
The original Greek term for “sound mind” in the NJKV translation is sōphronismos, which denotes self-control, disciplined thinking, sound judgment, and moderation.
So, what is a sound mind? It’s a mind that’s disciplined and well-ordered.
Now, what makes it so hard for many men to develop a sound mind?
In my clinical experience as a psychotherapist, I’ve observed that men often fall into two common traps.
The first is being driven and overwhelmed by our emotions, which completely derails our ability to act in line with our values in a self-disciplined way.
The second less recognized trap is the denial and suppression of our emotions, which leaves us caught in addictive and compulsive patterns of avoidance. This also derails our ability to live the way we want to.
A disciplined and sound mind can acknowledge and accept the reality of our feelings, while responding in a way that aligns with what’s most important to us.
It’s accepting of our internal experiences while remaining committed to pursuing our greatest values.
This week, we’re going to unpack what this really means together through the lens of Scripture.
Thanks for coming along!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that you would open my eyes this week to understand the kind of sound mind that the Holy Spirit is trying to develop in me. May self-control be a fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart this week, as promised in Galatians 5:22.
Reflection: As a man, do I tend to lean towards being driven by my emotions or the avoidance of my emotions?
Copyright © 2026 Impactus. All rights reserved.
About
