Archive for the ‘Dealing With Depression’ Category

Jesus would say to you this day:

Trust and be not afraid.  Life is full of wonder.  Open child-trusting eyes to all I am doing for you.  Fear not.

Only a few steps more and then My Power shall be seen and known.  You are, yourselves, now walking in the tunnel-darkness.  Soon you, yourselves, shall be lights to guide feet that are afraid.

The cries of your sufferings have pierced even to the ears of God himself–My Father in Heaven, your Father in Heaven.  To hear, with God, is to answer.  For only a cry from the heart, a cry to Divine Power to help human weakness, a trusting cry, ever reaches the Ear Divine.

Remember, trembling heart, that with God, to hear is to answer.  Your prayers, and they have been many, are answered.

Taken from God Calling, by two listeners who chose to stay anonymous

I know the night seems long for those who suffer, and like Job we may never get a direct answer from God as to why.  If we could understand everything God does, we would be God.  We are expected to take it by faith and come out stronger on the other side.  God will judge those that have hurt us.  Keep on pouring out your heart to God, but don’t forget to praise Him at the end of your prayers.

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 

The Christian life is not about you.  It is important that you understand this concept.  When you give your life to Christ, you are doing just that, for better or for worse.

Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life hit the nail on the head.  He states:

“The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.  It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions.  If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God.  You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years.  That’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point–ourselves.  We ask self-centered questions like, What do I want to be?  What should I do with my life?  What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future?  But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.  You didn’t creat yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for.  You exist only because God wills that you exist.  You were made by God and for God–and until you understand that, life will never make sense.”

Well, you might say, “okay, I agree with that, but how do I find God’s purpose for my life?”

I thought this was quite complex to answer, but lo and behold, I found a simple answer on the internet.

Best Answer – Chosen by Voters

Pray for knowledge of His will for you and the power to carry it out. Make sure you want to know, however, because once you ask, you will be shown, and it’s not always easy (thus asking for the power to carry it out).

I decided I absolutely could not say it any better than this.  The only thing I might add is that the answer may not come immediately. 

A lot of people are depressed because they feel they haven’t accomplished much in life.  There could be several reasons for this.  They didn’t accept Christ at an early life could be one reason.  Another reason is that God’s purpose in your life involves your later years, not your early years of life.  

 Another reason, could be  that you can’t see the forest because of the trees as the saying goes.  In other words, you aren’t getting the big picture.  Think of all the good little things that you have accomplished.  You really don’t know what life would have been like for others if you hadn’t been born.  Maybe you saved a life without knowing it, like preventing someone from going to the store, for example.  Had he/she gone at the time they wanted to, they might have been in a horrible car accident.  That person may have gone on to do wonderful things for people. 

It is never to late to start again.  Start thinking of little things you can do to make a difference.  Leave Bible tracts in phone booths, bake cookies for some homeless people, and just stick a note in that says “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, and he is only one prayer away.”  How about helping a neighbor fix his car, or plant flowers.  

 I have a friend that was at a gas station once and helped someone put gas in the car that was having trouble and helped him pay for the gas because he didn’t have enough money.  The person knew my friend was on his way to Church and took the time to help him.  Remember, today is a fresh new day with no mistakes in it!!  Make it a good one!

 

YOU CAN FAST FROM WRONG THINKING

What is depression?  How do you know if you are depressed?  Are there different types of depression?  How do you deal with depression?

As a psychology major, I know there is no way to address this subject totally in a single blog.  I do think I can give you new insights, however, as depression is something I know about, not just from my studies but from personal experience.

Freud defined depression as “anger turned inward.”  Not all experts totally agree with Freud, but there is no doubt that repressed anger does take its toll on an individual.

Depression is a normal emotion and absolutely everybody has experienced it and can relate to it.  The problem is that some can handle it and others can’t depending on their environment.  Unresolved depression leads to what experts call “clinical depression.”  This is very serious as it is usually chronic and a person feels there is nothing left so why go on living?  The problem is, because of the evolution indoctrination, people think they will just return to dust and become nothing which they would rather do than go on living.  Please let me plead with you to not buy into this lie.  It is not true.  Why take the chance when you don’t know for sure?

David knew all about depression.  He wrote about it more than once.  Let’s take a look at what David had to say about depression in the Book of Psalms.

2Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are vexed. 3My soul is also sore vexed, but Thou, O LORD, how long4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul! O save me for Thy mercies’ sake 5For in death there is no remembrance of Thee; in the grave who shall give Thee thanks? 6I am weary with my groaning; all the night I make my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears. (Psalm 6)

There are many other Psalms that talk about David’s depression but he almost always ends his prayer with praise and faith in God to deliver him.

So, how do we treat depression?

First, if it lasts over a week, see a doctor.  It might just be a chemical imbalance that medication can solve.  I know a lady that was so grieved over her husband’s death, it turned a normal healthy woman into a sobbing, helpless little lady.  When she saw a doctor, it was determined that the trauma was so great, that it caused a chemical imbalance, and when she went on medication, her depression was almost totally cured.

Second, I believe if depression is truly anger turned inward, then we must do something to counter it.  In other words, I firmly believe we must turn outward. I have found there is much power in the art of giving.  Luke 6:38 says:

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

We turn outward by doing good deeds for others less fortunate than we.  Do you have a special talent to brighten someone’s day?  How about baking cookies and taking them to the homeless shelter or veterans hospital.  Why don’t you take a Bible tract with you?

Thirdly, I have found great power in nature to heal.  Read my essay on nature under the category “essays.”  Then,  go on a nature hike.

Fourth, animal therapy does wonders for depression.  Buy yourself a parakeet, dog, or cat, whatever you are set up for.

Journal your progress and express your feelings both positive and negative every day.  You might try finding a support group.

These suggestions are not a “cure all,” but I believe they are insightful and advice  you will not  always receive from secular psychologists or psychiatrists.

 Jesus would say to you this day from Psalm 30:

¹I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

 ²O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

 ³O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

 ⁴Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

 ⁵For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 ⁶And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

 ⁷LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

 ⁸I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.

 ⁹What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

 ¹⁰Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

 ¹¹Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

 ¹²To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

 

 There is a song that Dallas Holmes used to sing called Joy Comes In The Morning.  I always liked it.  I can’t blog the tune, but I can blog the words:

If you’ve knelt beside the rubble of an aching, broken heart.

When the things you gave your life to, fell apart.

You’re not the first to be acquainted with sorrow, guilt, and pain.

But the Master promised sunshine after rain.

To invest your seed of trust in Him.

Mountains you just can’t move.

You gave your life for things you cannot prove.

But to give the things you cannot keep, for the

things you will never lose.

Is the way to find the joy God has for you.

Chorus:

Hold on my child!

Joy comes in the morning!

Weeping only lasts for the night!

Hold on my child!

Joy comes in the morning!

The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.  

Have you ever felt like you really aren’t praying very well?  Maybe you feel your prayers lack depth or aren’t long enough.  Years ago, I caught myself just praying for things I need and want at the exclusion of everything else–not too smart.

There isn’t any one special way to pray, but let’s analyze the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6.

 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ( Lord, may I speak your name with respect and honor and keep it holy in my heart.)

 Thy kingdom come, (Thank you, Lord for the new  world coming that you are preparing.)

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. ( Help me , Lord to always conform to your will.)

Give us this day our daily bread. (Please meet my needs this day and help me to be able to know the difference between needs and wants.)

 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (Lord, forgive me for my sins as I forgive others for sinning against me.)

 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: ( You promised, Lord, to deliver me from those that will to do me harm.  Thank you for doing so, maybe not in my timing but yours.) 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (May your name be forever praised for all heaven and earth belong to you.)

This is a sample paraphrase.  You can take this paraphrase and make it more specific– what evil do you want to be delivered from?  What specifically are your needs?  How aren’t you honoring God’s name through your words and actions?

I personally, quite often, recite this prayer as an introduction to my prayer time with God.  After I pray the Lord’s prayer, I often use the ACTS prayer:

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

Sometimes I also do better writing my prayer to God in the name of Jesus.

In conclusion, there is a time for all types of prayers, casual, intimate, long, and short.  The important thing is to pray from your heart and tell God how you feel.

 (Job 1)  ⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. ⁷ And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
⁸ Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
⁹ So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
¹² And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

(A while later)

 1Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.2And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and hates evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

 4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.5But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

 7So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

 9Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

When I first read this passage of scripture, I asked that question, what do God and the devil say when they talk about me?   I came to the conclusion that the devil thought I would give up and “curse God and die” like Job’s wife thought he should do.

Years later, I thought, what can I do to Satan for all the bad he did to me, that God allowed him to do?  Well, I decided to start this website so that now, millions can be encouraged and helped.  Some of what I write is therapy for me.  I feel that if I am struggling with some of these issues, others are too.

Happy reading!! Be blessed and prosper!!

We all know what a fast is.  The thought of going without food makes us grimace.  But, what about a 40 day fast from wrong thinking?  What is that?

Pastor Gregory Dickow has a revolutionary plan to help people change their negative thinking little by little.  I personally haven’t gone on the fast, but I have heard him talk about it many times, and there are multitudes of wonderful testimonies from those that have.

It is true that we “are what we think.”  Our thoughts do  control our feelings.

Today, I would encourage you to log onto his website and prayerfully review it and see if this program is for you.  Just log on to:   www.changinglives.org

In conclusion, please remember Romans 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?