Depression: a persistent feeling of sadness. It affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
1 Samuel 16:23 Literal Standard Version And it has come to pass, in the spirit of [sadness from] God being on Saul, that David has taken the harp, and played with his hand, and Saul has refreshment and gladness, and the spirit of sadness has turned aside from off him.
Saul was depressed. They didn’t know what it was so they said it was from God (they thought everything came from God). Depression affected Saul so badly that they called it an evil spirit.
Why was Saul depressed? Was it a clinical thing? Was he born with it? No! He was depressed because God took the Kingdom from him due to his rebellion. The spirit of the Lord lifted off of Saul. He was jealous and rebellious and that’s what caused the depression. He lost what was once his but it was his fault. He never overcame it and he stayed jealous the rest of his life.
Identify what’s causing it.
STOP DISOBEYING GOD!
Stop thinking about the negative things about yourself. Numbers 13:33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Many people are depressed because they have no confidence in who they are in Christ. It’s a daily battle with low self-worth. Stop thinking about yourself and the past and start rejoicing about your newly created being that has HIGH Spiritual Worth! 2 Cor 5:17
Satan damaged your identity through sin and you must get a new identity in Christ and focus on that ONLY.
Hope in God. Your expectation is somewhere else besides God. You’re disappointed because you’re making false assumptions and expectations. You’re assuming people will do certain things that they NEVER told you they would do. It’s a victim and childish mentality to assume people will do for you (emotionally, spiritually, and financially) when they didn’t say they would.
You’re expecting people to be God. There is only one God and no one is Him!
Psalms 42:11 New King James Version (NKJV) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Ps 62:5 English Revised Version My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
Ps 43:5 Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.
Despair: the complete loss or absence of hope. Depression, anguish, unhappy, gloom, discouragement, defeatism
We should communicate with our soul and instruct it to follow our spirit. Encourage your soul to have faith in God. Avoid despair and depression.
Serve Others and stop being jealous of them. People are depressed because they are so busy competing with others and they’re losing the game which is causing depression. Stop comparing and competing and start serving and helping others.
Phil 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit (pride), but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
It didn’t say OUTDO OTHERS!
Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
Get your joy back by being thankful you’re saved. In life, we focus so much on other things money (the lack thereof), dating, hurt from dating, pain from the past, pain from betrayal, the struggles of marriage, bad kids, messed up relationships, missed opportunities, and the list goes on... that we stop focusing on the joy of our salvation. Your mental health issues can be corrected if you start living by faith and developing the spiritual gift of Joy.
Ps 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Is 61:3 Amplified Bible To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: To give them a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning], The oil of joy instead of mourning, The garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Neh 8:10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”
Be grateful for what you have. You’re not content and that’s causing depression. You have to learn how to be content while you’re believing God for the full manifestation of the promise. If not, you’ll sit there complaining, comparing, and you will confuse your mind. It’s hard to be content when you have an image problem and you want people to see you with more or better. That bad motive will get you nowhere in the Kingdom of God. What you possess is for you not for others to see. Drive what you drive, live where you live, wear the clothes you possess, manage your money properly, and be content. You’re not trying to impress anyone or prove anything to anyone. We are not competing. If you are competing with others, you’ll stop thanking God for what you do have and you’ll start complaining.
Phil 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
1 Timothy 6:6 Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
Numbers 11:1 The people started complaining about their troubles. The LORD heard their complaints. He heard these things and became angry.
If you do these things you will overcome the spirit of depression.
Pastor Doc
Listen to the Teaching here: https://soundcloud.com/everywherechurch/5-ways-to-overcome-depression-june-21-2024-63217-p?si=281ac6738a98401e96c089e4912ed340&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
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