Two Guaranteed Ways to Help Fight Depression

I have found the there are at least two guaranteed ways to fight depression without a visit to any therapist or physician.

1. Lose myself in the WORD of GOD - When I am spending my time engulfed in GOD's love expressed through HIS words that I am privileged to read, I re-focus on who I am in Christ Jesus, how insanely much I am adored by my Savior, the fact that I am not alone but He shares this walk with me everyday and the reason for the journey...which leads me to #2...
2. Lose myself in the service of others - When I am spending my time serving all those precious souls around me whom JESUS died for, it gives me NEW PERSPECTIVE. I quit internalizing and start engaging. I see things differently and react differently. I grow in THANKFULNESS, which brings true joy.

 So when you are feeling down, think of those key words - LOSE MYSELF. When I lose myself in JESUS and His will for my life (which is simply being obedient to His Word and following the Holy Spirit's lead) I find joy, peace, understanding - LIFE!

Do we REALLY get it????

Psalm 81:6-7 (The Message)

 "I took the world off your shoulders,
      freed you from a life of hard labor.
   You called to me in your pain;
      I got you out of a bad place.
   I answered you from where the thunder hides,
      I proved you at Meribah Fountain.


When we allow GOD to open up our spiritual eyes to things formerly hidden, it can be both enlightening and frightening at the very same time. Some believers are content with letting GOD hand out the "Sesame Street Version" as I call it because that is all they are willing to open themselves up to. Me being the radical child of GOD that I tend to be, I'm always asking GOD for more. Sometimes you really need to be careful what you ask for.

This verse reminded me of something that GOD showed me one time regarding someone I was praying over. That person still had a literal heavy chain around their neck in the spiritual realm. Satan had them bound with a chain that looked like something out of a horror movie. Yet, they conducted themselves throughout life unaware of any of this...only reaping symptoms, circumstances and consequences.

That is really scary to me...to unknowingly go through life with really nasty things attached and no hope or means to get them off.  Feelings of rejection, abandonment, anger, guilt, rebellious tendencies, abusive behavior, violence, 0% self worth...all the things that Satan loves to use against those GOD created for His glory.

So, the good news is...if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Saviour - He can and will deliver you from all the things that bind you and keep you from your destiny in HIM. Read the verse again. He's already declared it over us. We don't think about our slavery to Satan as hard labor until we feel life without the chains. For me it's not enough to just get rid of the sin chains at salvation. I want to be TOTALLY free. Free from all of the other baggage that poor decisions and sins of the flesh have afforded to me because I've allowed it. Okay...read the verse again. Are we living a life that is truly delivered? Set Free and Free Indeed? If He's gotten you out...why are you even thinking about going back in? Say NO to the chains, say NO to the brokenness, say NO to the control of the enemy who only seeks to kill and destroy that which the blood of the Lamb has already purchased. You have authority over your own flesh. Speak obedience into your own flesh and let this mind be in you...