I suffer with depression. Most of the time through prayer and exercise I have it under control. However, there are times even when I feel I am fully prepared that it sneaks up on me and literally controls my life and changes the world around me. Worst of all it can oppress me and my family.
My depression usually comes in manageable small bouts of being blue about the cold weather and trapped inside the house with 5 kids wondering what to do next. Or stems from a silly mistake I made that I feel I should have known better.
But this last episode stemmed from a huge spiritual attack from Satan.
I firmly believe that depression and other similar mental conditions can be avoided and nurtured. These conditions in my faith are nothing more than Satan, the prince of darkness and of this earthly world, attacking you where you're most vulnerable. Do not be deceived into thinking that he does not exist and is not out there looking for every way to bring you down. If you tend to get angry and hold grudges, he knows this and will bring about a situation to weaken you. If you are trying to quit a bad habit, he knows and he will do everything in his power to tempt you and make you feel ashamed.
So what can we do to overcome these horrifying, demeaning voices in our head that tell us that we are worthless, or tell us that we will never be able to be successful, or tell us that our spouses do not love us and we are not worthy of love?
The first step is to accept Jesus Christ into your heart. If you have never accepted God's grace into your life and His free gift of salvation, take a few moments now and give your life unto Him. Let God know I am a sinner, Lord, and I ask for your forgiveness for.....(fill in the blank.) I give my life to you, Father God, and ask for your Son, Lord Jesus, to fill my heart so that I can walk in your light. Thank you for the gift of your Son. Through Him we have received forgiveness from you and the gift of eternal life in heaven. (Pray something like this. As long as it comes from the heart, the Lord will accept your prayer and cast His Holy Spirit upon you to guide you, lead you, comfort you, counsel you.)
The next step is to assure that you lead a prayerful life. Prayer is no more than a conversation with God. Some people make it more difficult than it really is and fear messing up prayer. You cannot as long as what you are praying comes from your heart. God knows all your desires. The Holy Spirit is with you to be the intercessor between you and God so when you do not know what to pray, He will take it to God for you all you need do is kneel and praise the Lord and meditate with Him.
One of the most important things you need to do to keep the enemy at bay is to guard yourself with spiritual armor, which is God's Word. Read it, live it, ask for God to bring His Word to truth in your life. If there is a particular verse that really hits you and your weaknesses, memorize it and use it when you feel an attack coming.
As you draw yourself closer to God through His Word and prayer, you will become more observant in your daily activities and be able to recognize the signs of an attack from Satan. Choose to say "no" to his foolishness. Choose to say "I will not consent to those thoughts." Choose in the authority of Jesus Christ for Satan to get behind you.
Some excellent book for reading for those suffering from bondage are:
Reclaiming Surrendered Ground by Jim Logan
Battlefield of the mind by Joyce Myers
These books are excellent in walking you through the steps to freedom in Christ. Freedom from what keeps you in chains. You will read them, use them, and refer back to them often.
Once broken the chains need to stay broken through awareness and preparation.
May God Bless you and keep you.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phillipians 4:8)
No comments:
Post a Comment