Losing Your Mind Without Losing Your Soul - October 18, 2026

Resilient: Recovering an Honest Faith in a Dishonest World Losing Your Mind Without Losing Your Soul Jon Fredricks Today's Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-16 NIV (https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1SA.1...)   1 Samuel 18:1-16 NIV After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well. 6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns. 14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.   John 15:6 NIV 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.   John 10:10 NIV 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   1) PRACTICE YOUR POWER OF "NO" 1 Samuel 18:18 NIV   Joshua 24:15 NIV 15 “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”   Matthew 5:37 NIV 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.   2) RUTHLESS HONEST ABOUT YOURSELF! 1 Samuel 18:23 NIV   1 Corinthians 11:31 NASB 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.   Luke 18:13-14 NIV (https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LUK.1...)   3) CLING TO HEART HEALTHY HABITS 1 Samuel 18:10 NIV   Luke 5:16 NIV 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.   Matthew 4:4 NIV 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”   Psalms 1:1-3 NIV (https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.1...)   4) CIRCLE UP 1 Samuel 18:1-3 NIV   Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV 10 But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.   Proverbs 27:17 NIV 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.   5) FIND THE FIRST THING Matthew 16:26 NIV 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?   Matthew 6:33 NIV 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   Acts 17:27 NIV 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.   John 15:1-11 NIV (https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.1...)