Overcoming Depression

Ya see, so many in this day and age deal with different forms of depression… now if you’ve never had to suffer with depression – you’re blessed! Depression is debilitating, suffocating, and down-right evil prison that prevents people from being who God made them to be joyous, happy & full of life. It’s a black hole that no one can help you get out of. Only Jesus can set you free!

You might ask how can you say that? I’ve been there… all of 2016 and the very first part of this year I suffered with extreme depression… mostly due to the pressures of ministry.

Doctors prescribe all kinds of drugs to help with it… anti-anxiety pills, mood stabilizers, valium, and so on… but no drug can truly set you free – they only bind you to new addiction.

Depression manifests in specific ways – and in different parts of the person: In their…

Mood: anxiety, apathy, over-all discontent, guilt, hopelessness, loss of interest, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, mood swings, or sadness

Sleep: early awakening, excess sleepiness, insomnia, or restless sleep

Some deal with: excessive hunger, fatigue, loss of appetite, or restlessness

There are Behavioral: agitation, excessive crying, irritability, or social isolation

Ya feel like you can’t concentrate, slowness in activity, or thoughts of suicide

And some deal with: weight gain or weight loss

Plain and simple… It’s a prison that causes the person to just give up… and sometimes… die.

Like, I said there is no hope but Jesus – Jesus came to give us Life and Life more abundantly! AMEN?

Today, we’re going to look at overcoming depression, in all its forms. Because, God did not create you to be depressed.

YOU’RE TO BLESSED TO BE DEPRESSED!!! AMEN?

Ultimately, depression comes from how one thinks of themselves, their lives, their past, present and future selves. And it’s all a big muddy mess!

Let me just say… it’s all a lie! A lie from the pit of Hell!

Q: Now, who was tossed out of Heaven?

The Bible says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren

Revelation 12:10 HCSB

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

(HCSB) 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah have now come, because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown out: the one who accuses them before our God day and night.

So, his self-assigned job is to accuse you of all kinds of evil crap – when you know you haven’t done “that” or you’re forgive because you repented.

Listen, he is the father of lies according to , he’s a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy according to the first half of .

That is exactly what depression does… it steals your joy, peace and wellbeing, it kills your hopes, and dreams and destroys your integrity, and your life

Q: But, did you know the Bible has an, almost immediate, fix for depression?

Check out Probers 4:23 in the NCV

“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life”

Proverbs 4:23 HCSB

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Q: Did you catch that?

Proverbs 4:23 HCSB

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

(NCV)

Q: Did you catch that?

Ya see, every word that comes out of our mouths comes from our thoughts - whether consciously or unconsciously. Listen, our thoughts, our values and our beliefs, will either make us or break us.

Our minds have incredible power, so we must be careful about what we’re thinking about and how we’re thinking about ourselves and others. It’s like this… If we think good thoughts, our words will be good.

Let me say it this way… Right living begins with right thinking. Each of us have a unique insight in to the world that we live in. This is because we have created it - by our past thoughts and our words.

The Bible says, in

Proverbs 23:7 HCSB

for it’s like someone calculating inwardly. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

(NASB95) “For as he thinks within himself, so he is…”

So, if a person thinks they’re a:

· Failure

· Broken

· Sick

· Looser

· Victim

They will be!

But, if a person thinks that he/she is:

· Successful

· Rich

· Healthy

· The Victor

· Christ-like

· A Blessing

They will be…

Ya see, our actions will follow what we’ve believed in our hearts. Because, as Jesus said, in

Matthew 15:18 HCSB

But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man.

Remember, we’re created in the image of God. ()

And remember what says…

Proverbs 18:21 HCSB

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

(HCSB) 21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Listen, the spiritual battle is almost always in our heads… in our thought life. True spirituality, always begins inside, our thoughts. It’s like this, when we think right thoughts, we do right things, and then we have right feelings. But opposite is true as well… when we think wrong thoughts, we then do wrong things and have wrong or bad feelings.

So, the key then to living a victorious spiritual life is learning how to take control of our thoughts and align our thoughts with God’s Word. The secret to righteous living is righteous thinking. So, it is important to make sure our speech is in line with God’s Word, in order to have strong faith, and operate in Biblical principles which will cause us to be victorious! For the Glory of God!

Listen, Victory begins with the way we think. Our life goes in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. It’s like this… You cannot expect to be kind, gentle, loving, or patient without thinking the that way. You also cannot expect to live a life of victory without thinking the right thoughts.

Q: Are you getting it, so far?

Take every thought captive

Let me say this... depression lives in our thought life and those dark thoughts of failure, self-loathing, loneliness, and suicide are in effect Satan lying in your ears. Polluting your soul…

Even though we know God loves us… His heart and Word are filled with His complete unconditional love for us.

Here’s the fix: The Spirit of the Lord through apostle Paul put it this way in

2 Corinthians 10:5 HCSB

and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ.

So, whenever we have a negative thought that tries to depress us, we must immediately take hold of it and cast it down, then think on God’s Word, and speak His Word. What other kind of thoughts should we have anyway?

The Bible tells us how we should be thinking in

Philippians 4:8 HCSB

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.

(HCSB) “8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell [or think] on these things.

So, when those thoughts of unworthiness come force them to what the Word says about you – You are an overcomer, you a loved, you are a Child of God!!

In order to do this, we must read God’s Word so that the Word gets rooted deep in our hearts, which will cause us to think the right things. Amen?

Turn to

Psalm 119:11 HCSB

I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.

(HCSB) state “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.”

Read, meditate on His Word and hid it in your heart!

Focus on the Good Stuff

I think, so far, I’ve help us all to see how depression works and how to take authority over it.

Q: But now what?

· Think on the Good Stuff:

· Think about how Good God is to you!!

· Think about the good things in your life

Force yourself to be an optimist by not allowing your mind to look at things in your life in a negative way but in a positive way.

Let’s start with this…

(HCSB) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:33–34 HCSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. 34 Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So, the secret in overcoming depression is to immediately focus on Jesus, on His Kingdom and His righteousness. Trusting that all your needs will be met because you now have a proper focus – Jesus your savior, your Lord, your King!

There was a move that came out several years ago about the former Prime Minister of England, Margaret Thatcher called “The Iron Lady.” In that movie, some powerful quotes were capture that I wanted to share with you, today. She said…

“Watch your thoughts, they become words;

watch your words, they become actions;

watch your actions, they become habits;

watch your habits, they become character;

watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

These words are powerful. They describe, in detail, our life journey and the significance that our thought life has on our future. We must learn to be selective with the thoughts we allow to circulate in our minds. God’s Word instructs us to do this. Every thought has an agenda…to shape our philosophy of life and prompt us to move in some direction. We must filter our thoughts with truth. Otherwise our feelings will control our minds and eventually produce words and actions that take us in a direction we will finally regret. To move in the direction God intended for us, we must begin by finding out what God thinks.

In Isaiah 55:8

Isaiah 55:8 HCSB

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

As you and I think about His thoughts, we will find that His Words begin to shape our thoughts and words. Actions will follow. Good habits will form and shape our character and destiny.

(HCSB) “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration.” As you and I think about His thoughts, we will find that His Words begin to shape our thoughts and words. Actions will follow. Good habits will form and shape our character and destiny.

Conclusion

As I wrap this up –

So, the process to overcome depression is:

1) Think of good thinks

2) Red the Word of God

3) Take authority over bad thoughts and feelings

4) Force them into obedience of Christ

5) Speak good things

6) Think good thoughts

7) Thank the Lord Jesus for setting you free!!

Today, I’m going to start the process for you by declaring blessings, declaring the Word over you!

· You are an overcomer, in Christ Jesus!

· You are beloved by the lord

· You are blessed and highly favor

· You are to bless to be depressed

· You are a child of God

· You are a Joint heir in Christ Jesus

· You’re a winner

If you’ve been dealing with depression or even bad thoughts and you want prayer today… come on up!!! We will pray the prayer of faith over you and with you!!

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