a good article
Conquering Depression
Be at rest… O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
Psalm 116:7 NIV
When you’re depressed your motivation is drained, your desire to pursue God is gone, your conversations turn sour, you’re blinded to your blessings, your enthusiasm is forced, you’re in a daze regarding future plans. What’s the way out?
Find the cause of your depression! Unconfessed sin is like a stone in your shoe. Get it out! No holiday, job change, relationship change or doctor will heal it: "… your sins have cut you off from God" (Isaiah 59:2 NLT).
Greed can depress you too. King Ahab’s obsession with Naboth’s vineyard affected his entire family: "He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house" (Proverbs 15:27). Constantly comparing yourself to others can also depress you. So can finding fault. "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles" (Proverbs 21:23). So can an unforgiving attitude. Fatigue is also a major cause. One U.S. President refused to make
important decisions at the end of the day, insisting that rest was
necessary to exercising good judgment. As great as their assignment was, Jesus often called His disciples aside to rest. He knew that when fatigue walks in, faith walks out. So how can you conquer depression? (a) Through prayer! Oswald J. Smith said that the happiest moments of his life were during prayer and Bible reading.
He called this his ‘morning watch.’ He also said praying aloud prevented his thoughts from wandering. (b) Through God’s Word! Jeremiah said, "When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight" (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV). Daily prayer and the reading of God’s Word is a prescription that can help heal your emotions and lift your depression. Try it!
The Bible in a Year…
Deuteronomy 22-24
Mark 4:1-12
Psalm 119:17-24
Proverbs 17:7-10
