Depression

In 1994 reports suggested that around 35 million Americans admitted to depression.  Today over 40 million have been reported as depressed.  

  

The Word speaks to us about depression and also how to overcome it.  Depression is a soulish action of the Adamic nature, and is the loss of God given expression.  It leaves people felling empty, alone, hopeless, helpless, misunderstood, lost, broken, unloved, unlovely, judged, confused, hurting in ways that they can't give words too.  

Psalms 40:1-5

I waited patiently for the Lord.
 He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

He pulled me out of a horrible pit,
 out of the mud and clay.
  He set my feet on a rock
 and made my steps secure.

He placed a new song in my mouth,
 a song of praise to our God.


Many will see this and worship.
 They will trust the Lord.

Blessed is the person
 who places his confidence in the Lord
 and does not rely on arrogant people
 or those who follow lies.

You have done many miraculous things, O Lord my God.
  You have made many wonderful plans for us.
  No one compares to you!


I will tell others about your miracles,
 which are more than I can count.

Here we find David penned words that came from experience.  He had entered a dark place, a horrible pit.  This is exactly how depression is often defined: as a dark, horrible pit! 

But God is always open eared to the cry of people.  And when David cried out to God, he was heard.  And notice how David, says, He gave him a new song and a praise.  Those are both things that depressed people are void of; a song in heart or praise on lips to God.  

The enemy of our soul longs to keep us in the same downcast state he is in, but we have a God who has assured us that through him we were more than conquerors.

We don't have to be a people left void of God expressions.  We could say void of life and love.

When Satan was cast out of the heavens.  He lost out of the life and abundance now promised to all of God's people.  

He was cast away from love.  Today, he has no greater joy than to keep people feeling unloved and lifeless.  However, as Christians we have been given power over all the power of the enemy through the Name of Jesus Christ.  

Psalms 42:1-5

As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
 When may I come to see God’s face?

My tears are my food day and night.
 People ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”

I will remember these things as I pour out my soul:
  how I used to walk with the crowd
  and lead it in a procession to God’s house. I sang songs of joy and thanksgiving
 while crowds of people celebrated a festival.

Why are you discouraged, my soul?
  Why are you so restless?
   Put your hope in God,
 because I will still praise him.
 He is my savior and my God.

Again David at the pen, writes about how his soul (mind, will and emotions) are longing for God (for life, love, and completeness).  He was remembering the past when his life was full, and yet now empty. Thus, he pours out his mind, and emotions before the Lord.    

He ask questions: Why soul are you so discouraged?  in other words, "Why have you lost the courage to live and love?"  "Why are you so restless; why are you not content?"  

Then he tells his soul what it has to do:  "Put your hope in God; praise God."  

When the mind, will or emotions rise up in adversity to God, the inner man too begins to rise.  And when he does, you must learn to side with him.  He will be the one who leads you out of this deep dark place.  

Rise up and put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness and refuse to side with the enemy of your soul.  

God is still on the throne and he will turn things around as you side with Him.  

The enemy of your soul (Satan) is a deceiver.  He is a liar and the Father of all lies.  Therefore, he sits up a battle within your soul through the sense realm (sight, smell, touch, taste, sight, or hearing).  He gets a place in your mind and then gets you to side your will over to him.

Once this happens you are headed into a dark vortex; a spiral downward. Soon you find yourself in places you have not desired, these places vary with people.

For some they just simple go inward.  They become reclusive and withdraw from society and or reality.  

Some believe they don't matter anymore, or loss all idea of love existing within their sphere.  

Others may simple go into the darkness of negativity, where difficulties are magnified.  The enemy is an expert at illusions.  He enjoys making people feel small and helpless.  Sometimes feelings of jealousy, fear or hostility can occur or bouts of yelling or crying.   Some people even break out in a very strange laughter but there is no joy involved.  

Many times depress leaves people with a lack of concentration, their minds are all jumbled adding to their emotional hopelessness and frustrations and they find themselves without ambition.  

Depressed people have no motivation and thus they become more and more inactive.  Because of this they become physically ill as well as mentally distressed. 

Unfortunately a majority of people suffering from depression never admit it ... they ware mask and tell you they are fine, while inwardly they are in a battle for life.  

Doctor Lester Sumrall once spoke about facing the issue of depression and he said that it seemed to him that most depression follows traumatic experiences such as:

•   disappointments 

•   rejection

•   failure

•   loss of business, family, friend 

•   dead religion

•   traditional ideas of living 

•   social problems 

•   illness that comes from some chemical imbalance 

All the above may be realities in a portion of a persons live.  But it is not their life, and not one of them should be allowed to take their lives away from them.  

The first step to getting better is facing the issue.  But you can't face it alone.  

If you are already a Christian and the enemy has hook nosed you ... rise up to the help from within.  If you are not a Christian turn to the Lord today and be free.

Simply declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved. By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved.

Once you receive Jesus you, receive power over all the power of the enemy. Now you have all you need to come up out of this dark place.  

No one can save them selves, but God can, and has made a way for salvation and offers us all help in our time of trouble. So once you are saved, know and believe in your Christian Dominion.

Eph. 3:20 says:

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  

Then rise up and take your place.  Put a demand on the enemy to leave you and your surroundings.  Then simply begin to lift up your head and praise the Lord.  Sing songs of deliverance.  Live in the positive. 

Gal. 5:16 says:

If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  

This is to refuse to side with the enemy who plays on your mind and emotions. 

Learn to take charge of thoughts and imaginations. And put your mind on good things.  [II Cor. 10:4-6 ; Phil. 4:8]

And learn to keep your heart with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.  Pro. 4:23

Jesus always asserted a Spirit of Dominion over the enemy and He was our example.  He also did not leave us alone, but sent us one just like himself to live in us and be with us, the person of the Holy Spirit.  And through Him we have been given authority.  

Jesus also understood that He and the Father was one, and the Father God is all-powerful. Today we must understand that Jesus and the Father are one, but when Jesus comes to abide in us ... we become one with them.  

Jesus was very aware of the Power that came to him through God the Father ... and he wanted his disciples to know that they to had this kind of power; Power that overcomes death, hell, and the grave.  And there is nothing darker than that!  

There is nothing to hard, nothing to difficult and nothing impossible for God and for those who believe.  Depression is simply a form of darkness that desires to lead a person to oppression and then on to possession and death.  But it has no place in the believers’ life.  Matter of Fact the believer needs to rise up and cast off this spirit and then move on out to help others who are held captive in such dark pits.  

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

If you have read this article to this point ... and are a believer I admonish you to get up right now and put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, and begin to think on things that are honest and lovely and of a good report.  Begin to call those things which are not as though they are, like your forefather Abraham.  

If you are not a believer, I challenge you to open your heart and your mouth and allow Jesus to come in to help you.  He is only a cry away.  

Once you do this ... you receive all the help you need to overcome this dark assault, and get your life back. Matter of fact, the life you receive in Christ is one of life and abundance. 

That is the life you are intended to live, 'a life of

        Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.'