Depression
How to win over depression?
8 Steps to Victory by Diane S. Dew © Copyright 1998
If you exercise the following options every time you get depressed,
Satan's onslaughts will not affect you as much -- because he'd rather
leave you alone than have you worshipping God, reading the Word of God,
ministering to others, etc. Certainly you will grow stronger spiritually
in the process, because you'll be exercising your spiritual muscles.
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Worship God
Nothing puts everything into perspective like gazing upon the majesty
of the Almighty. Make melody to God, or listen to some anointed music:
that's what Saul did, when depressed: he called for David, the minstrel,
and the anointing on David's music caused the evil spirit that depressed
and harassed him to depart. As the psalmist said: "Magnify the
Lord." When He is magnified, our perspective changes: Everything
else seems smaller, less significant.
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Read Scripture
The Word of God is powerful in changing our perspective on earthly
things. It comforts us. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope." Rom 15:4 "This is my
comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me." Psa
119:50 "Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort
me?" Psa 119:81, 82
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Pray. Express your feelings
to God.
Prayer strengthens us (Psa 27:14; 138:3; Isa 30:15) and gives us peace
(Phil 4:6, 7; Isa 26:3).
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Find a place of service.
"Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13) In other words: keep busy.
As the saying goes, "Idleness is the devil's workshop."
There used to be another old saying that went something like this:
"I complained that I didn't have new shoes, till I saw someone
with no feet." There's always someone worse off than we are.
Focusing on others' needs will keep your eyes off your own problems.
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Take control over your thoughts
"Set your affection on things above, not things on the earth"
(Col 3:1) Realize that Jesus redeemed us entirely: spirit, soul and
body. (Isaiah 53)
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Keep filled with the Spirit
"Be filled [literally, be being filled] with the Spirit, speaking
to yourselves in songs and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody in your hearts to the Lord." (Eph 5:18)
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Walk in the Spirit
Don't give the enemy a foothold. Confess any known sin. Avoid places
or people that tend to bring you down.
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Rest in the Lord
"Rest in the Lord & wait patiently for him" (Psa 37:7).
"...and having done all, stand." (Eph 6) Worrying can't
change the situation anyway. As the saying goes: "Let go and
let God." Trust in His infinite wisdom, that he has everything
under control. Even a sparrow doesn't fall to the ground without his
notice, Jesus said. The very hairs of your head are numbered.
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