God can Heal our Depression through a Thankful Heart

“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.”

Photo by Kassidy Mitchell

Do you ever talk to yourself? Sometimes it helps. In the scripture above, David did just that, talking to his own soul or inner man.

Sometimes it is not enough, though. We may need the strength of another. Even the strongest among us are not capable of picking ourselves up by our own bootstraps, but I know someone who can pick us up when we’re down. His name is Jesus.

The thing about depression is that sometimes we don’t always really know exactly what causes it. Some of the listed causes include: abuse, medications, conflict, death, a loss, genetics, major events, personal problems, serious illnesses, and substance abuse.[i]

Though I am not trained in psychology, psychiatry, or medicine, I can attest to the verity of many of these causes for I have seen some of them up close and personal. I experienced some depression of my own for awhile while living where there was less sunshine.

So, I know there are various causes. Multiple things can sometimes work together to bring one down in the dumps. Sometimes there may be no known explanation.

As depression feeds on itself, we might become depressed over our own depression.

Though it may not be popular or accepted among professionals, I know that sin in our lives can cause us to be despondent. In some cases, this may be the main culprit. If we are not walking in obedience with God, something deep inside our spirits will nag at us, telling us that something is out of balance – just not right.[ii]

For the sake of this article, let us just talk about the depression that is just caused by, well, life – bills to pay, difficult people, disappointments and unfulfilled dreams. In other words; bad news got you down? How about we counter the bad news with some good news?

Through praise and thanksgiving, God can lift up our countenance. He will lift up the hands which hang down, strengthen our feeble knees, make straight paths for our feet and provide healing for our troubled souls.[iii]

No wonder David said; “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to you.” Most of us have had those midnights, those dark hours, those troubling thoughts in the evening. What a wonderful opportunity to rise up in thanksgiving to God. He can take our depression and turn it into victory!

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[i]   https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-depression#3

[ii]  Again, this is not to say that all depression is caused by sin. Guilt for wrong is strong enough to bring us 
  down without adding more guilt for feeling depressed.

[iii] See Hebrews 12.12-13.

Thankfulness Can Bring You Peace

Do you sometimes feel uneasy, discouraged, unsure, worrisome, conflicted or bothered? Peace is far away and if it is ever near, does it come only momentarily? Here is something you can do. 

In everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4.6-7)

I think it is important to recognize two different aspects of a peaceful life.

·       Peace with God

This is the first aspect. Peace with God comes to us when we are made right with God. The scriptures tell us that we can become righteous before God by faith. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4.3) This doesn’t just include Abraham, but the Jews and all the peoples of the world who believe in Christ.

The result of being made righteous before God is – peace with God.

Therefore, having been justified (made righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5.1)

This means we are no longer at enmity with God but, having believed God’s word, are now on his side. Like two nations who’ve been at war, when one surrenders to the other’s will, they become friends; we are now friends of and at peace with God.

·       The Peace of God.

It is possible, however, to have peace with God but not have the peace of God which is the second aspect. So, what does this mean and why is it important for you and me?

Now that God has eliminated the enmity between us and him, we are now reconciled to him and at peace with him, there is sometimes another sense of discord that most of us have to deal with. That is, a lack of peace within. We have conflicts going on inside of us that keep us from having inner peace. Such peace is not something that we are able to attain on our own. It can only be given to us from God. This is what we mean by the peace of God.

This peace, which comes from God, is something that is available to the Christian but there are some things we must apply. This includes living peacefully, gently and reasonably with others, rejoicing in God’s goodness, setting aside worry, being prayerful, and especially being thankful.

How does thankfulness on our part lead to peace within – or peace from God? I think thanksgiving resolves the inner conflicts in our souls. There are plenty of things to complain about, and I do my share of it, but I have never experienced inner peace while complaining.

Note: Taking legitimate problems to a legitimate source in order to fix it is problem solving. Thinking and talking obsessively to anyone and everyone about our problems is complaining. God’s word says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” (Philippians 2.14)

So, one of the answers as to how we can have peace from God in our inner being is this: be thankful. Thankfulness dispels complaining and negativity in our souls. Once again, through gratefulness, we become singular in purpose and not divided inside. The thankful heart concedes itself to the will of God alone, coming into agreement with him so that there is no conflict going on inside.

           When, upon life’s billows, you are tempest tossed,

           When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

           Count your many blessings, name them one by one
           And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done [i]

     

The peace of God will “guard your heart.” This means, “… to protect by a military guard … to prevent hostile invasion”[ii] Our hearts are easily invaded by troubling thoughts but that peace which comes from God will protect it like a well trained group of military guards. If we walk in this “peace of God” our hearts will be impenetrable.     

The peace of God will also “rule in your hearts.”

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3.15)

This can be described as “to be an umpire; to decide, determine; to direct or control.”[iii] This means that God’s peace will become the “decider” in your life. You will let it call the shots. You will only move where God gives you peace to move and only do what he gives you peace to do.

Be grateful, giving thanks to God for all of his blessings. This, along with the other things mentioned, will bring you his peace.

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[i] Johnson Oatman (1897)

[ii] Online Bible Greek Lexicon

[iii] Op. Cit.

How You Can Have Your Worries Chased Away

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving

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“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
                                                                                   (Philippians 4.6)

Photo by Matthew Kane on unsplash.com

I often define worry as borrowed trouble. No one worries about what is right now, we worry about things to come. “How will I pay my bills?” “What’s going to happen with my children?” “Will I ever be able to afford to retire?” “Will I ever find love?” “What if I get cancer?” These are some of the things we worry about. None of them are of any consequence for now. They are all borrowed troubles, many of which will never happen. Yet, we put ourselves through the misery.

Jesus said; “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6.31-34)

If we may live on borrowed troubles, why can’t we also live on borrowed blessings? Things may not look so good for any of us right now but as a believer in Christ, I know he will work all things together for the good of us all. We know he will never leave or forsake us and we know he has prepared a place for us in heaven. Those are happy thoughts that we can live in right now. We don’t have to go to heaven to enjoy the prospect of going there.

But what about the “here and now?” With all of the problems we face, how can I find any comfort for this day? The answer: By giving thanks!

I have found that I always have much more to be thankful for than I do to complain about. I have more to be grateful for than I do to be discouraged about.

Just today, God gave me his presence while I was driving to work and allowed me to give thanks for thirty minutes until I got to my job. After that, it was all downhill – no, just kidding! Honestly, it sat the tone for my whole day. Every day is not like that for me but I love the ones that are.

Giving of thanks plays a vital role in helping us not to worry. Thanksgiving cancels worry away just like light does the darkness.

Try it, you’ll like it.

The Joy of Thanksgiving

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ... Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

This may not be true of everyone, but for me, I think my happiest times have been the times that Thankfulness welled up inside my heart. Sometimes I think about just how good God has been to me and I cannot help but be glad.

Paul writes to the Philippians, we think, while imprisoned in Rome. He is perhaps awaiting his fate that would decree his death (Philippians 2.20) for he would one day die for his faith in Christ. Therefore, one might expect this letter to be full of doom and gloom, self pity and sadness, but no, it’s tone and tenor is happier, more excited and more upbeat than any other letter he wrote and probably moreso than any other book of the bible. Instead of anxiety we find peace. Instead of aimlessness we find purpose. Instead of sadness we find joy!

He writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4.6) This small letter is so joyful that he uses the words “joy” or “rejoice” eighteen times.

Do you find yourself without joy? Ever wonder what happened to your happiness? One of the keys to finding joy is seen a couple of verses down where he writes: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

God will bring joy to us when we pray but praying anxiously will not do. We must pray with thanksgiving. Doing so focuses our attention onto the blessings that are ours from God rather than the troubles we face. Paul could have easily given in to grief but did not. He chooses instead to be happy about the good things that God has granted.

We can choose to concentrate on God’s blessings too and then simply tell him, “Thanks.” There is something about having a thankful heart and thankful lips that changes the direction of our thinking. This will bring joy and happiness into our lives when we practice it.

The greater the degree of difficulty you’re going through may require more thanksgiving on your part. Maybe this is why Paul is so concentrated on giving thanks here.

There becomes a progression. First we start giving thanks. Then we begin to praise. This becomes rejoicing. After that we find our hearts full of joy.

Just recently I was feeling kind of down and remembered some of the things God had said about giving thanks. So, I started singing a song of praise to God. Suddenly, the blues became bright yellow sunshine in my soul. He really does take our thanks and turn it into joy!

How good God is! Give him thanks!

Thankfulness and the Will of God

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
                                                                                     Ephesians 5.18

There are many things about the will of God I can’t explain. Some aspects are mysterious. Questions abound such as the presence of evil. How could God allow such terrible things to happen – things like the death of a child, murders, and natural disasters? Is this God’s will?

Some aspects of God’s will are absolutely marvelous. For example: The bible says “blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11.25) God allowed Israel to stumble in unbelief so the Gentile nations would believe in order to provoke Israel to jealousy so that they will one day return to faith in Christ. No wonder the Apostle Paul continues with “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ‘For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?’ ‘Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?’"

But…. There are aspects of the will of God that are plain and simple such as: It is the will of God for us to give thanks in everything.

Maybe we should not concern ourselves so much with the mysterious and focus more on the clearly revealed truths of God’s will. Do you want to be in God’s will? Give thanks. Do you want to be there happily? Give thanks in everything.

The word doesn’t tell us to be thankful for everything but to be thankful in everything. Regardless the circumstance you can find something to be thankful for. I think it was Matthew Henry who after being robbed, said (I paraphrase) “I thank you Lord that that it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.”

Romans 8.28, in the bible says, “And we know that that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” He doesn’t say all things are good but that all things work together for the good of his called out ones.

May we find ourselves clearly inside the revealed will of God today by being thankful.

What is the Holiest Holiday? 30 Days of Thanksgiving

   This is the beginning of a series on Thanksgiving. We will be looking at Thanksgiving for the next thirty days which will end the day after Thanksgiving. May the Lord bless you as you read.

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Which Holiday is the most holy of all Holidays? I turn to the scriptures. There we see the feast days of the Lord. Each of them has great significance. 

The day of the Passover has been observed for thousands of years now and has great meaning not only to Jews but also to Christians because it is the day that required the shedding of the blood of a lamb. Paul said, “Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1Corinthians 5.7). Jesus was crucified at the same time that this feast took place.

Then there was the Feast of Unleavened Bread that went with it. Jesus told his disciples to take the bread and eat it for it represented his body which was broken for us.

Another feast, the Feast of Firstfruits, is important as well and represents the resurrection of the Lord Jesus from the grave. The scriptures says “Christ the firstfruits” which speaks of his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.23). 

The Feast of Tabernacles is a powerful reminder to us of the coming of the Holy Spirit. This day is also called Pentecost because it was fifty days after the firstfruits (from the first day of the week through the first day of the week after seven weeks) The Holy Spirit came upon His church on this very Feast day. (Acts chapter 2)

Besides these, scripture records a day, given by God to Israel, called the Feast of Trumpets. This holy day is meaningful to Christians because it points us to the returning of Jesus Christ to this earth for his saints. (1 Corinthians 15.52)

In the United States we celebrate some different Holidays. (Groundhog day doesn’t count – not a holy day).

There are two very significant days that are considered holy to Christians. The one is Christmas. This means much to us because we remember the birth of Christ on this day (though we're not sure what day Jesus was born on).

Easter is considered holy because it is a time when Christians remember and celebrate not only the death, but more importantly the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The timing of Easter usually occurs about the same time as Passover.

Another Holiday we celebrate in the United States of America is called Thanksgiving and is almost uniquely American. It was begun first by the Pilgrims in 1621 as they rejoiced in a Bountiful Harvest of Food. For this they gave God thanks and invited their native American friends to join them.

   Thanksgiving may not be the holiest of all days but I cannot think of anything more holy that a holy man or woman could do than to give thanks to the Great God of Heaven who has blessed us more than any of us deserves.

               Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

               For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 107.1)

My Heavenly Bucket List

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Maybe I’m not that ambitious but I’ve never had a list of things I wanted to do before I die. I’ve seen a lot of territory, some very beautiful, so I really don’t need just a whole lot more of that. I’ve been blessed with plenty of “things.” I’m no longer really interested in jumping out of a plane (though I would love to ride in a helicopter some time). I wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to go scuba diving (then you could call me Scuba Steve) but it’s not a goal of mine. I am not really interested in any new “toys” either.

There are a few things I’d like to do and then have the privilege of saying, “I did it.” I’d love to take my grandchildren to Six Flags when they get a little bigger. I’m easily humored. I’d also like to stay as healthy and mentally sound for as long as possible. 

Probably the one thing I want to accomplish most would be to have more opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and with as many people as possible. And I want to learn more about how I can get as close and stay as close to him as possible for the rest of my days here.

What I really want to tell you about is my heavenly bucket list – or, things I’d like to do after I die and go to heaven:

I really just want to camp out at the throne of Jesus and worship for awhile. He  has loved me like no one else. I love the verse in the book of the Revelation, the last book of the bible, where it tells us “and they shall see his face.” That’s the first thing I want to do when I get to heaven. I want to see his face. I want to see the scars in his hands and be reminded of the price he paid for our sins. I want to see him in the glory that surrounds his throne and I, like John, want to fall down at his feet and if I receive any rewards in heaven, I want to cast those at his feet.

I want to see those in heaven that I love. This would include my Mom and Dad, my brother who was the closest friend I ever had, my brother-in law, dear pastor friends and sweet saints of God that I have known – all of whom have gone on ahead before me into glory.

I also want to see friends and family members who have not yet been saved.  I want to see them all there with me. Many have not yet placed their faith in the Lord Jesus, but I am praying that they will. I think maybe heaven might be even more heavenly if they are there.

I want to find out what angels really look like. The bible seems to present most angels as looking a lot like humans. I am not sure I’ve ever met one but I know some day that I will. Then there are the Cherubs and Seraphs which all seem to have wings. There will be many up in God’s presence night and day, saying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is, and is to come.” I don’t think they will ever hold a light to God’s glory there. Rather, I think they will be a reflection of his glory and I hope to think that we will too.

I want to see the people of God from all of the ages. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to talk to Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Ruth and Jeremiah? I’d love to meet John the Baptist, the Apostles Peter and Paul and others from their time such as Phillip the Evangelist and Mary Magdalene. But I would also like to get to know John Huss, William Tyndale, George Muller, Watchman Nee and Jim Elliot. I want to see godly women such as Susanna Wesley, (mother of John and Charles Wesley) and stand face to face with some of my heroes such as Charles Spurgeon.

I want to experience what it will like to be truly like Jesus. The bible says that when he appears at the rapture (the catching up of the saints) and the resurrection (the raising of the dead who are in Christ) “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” Heaven is a place where sin or anything that defiles will never enter but also a place where we, God’s born again children, will be changed. We will be changed from corruption to incorruption. We’ll be changed from mortal to immortal (never dying). We will be changed from sinful flesh to sinless Spiritual beings who will fully bear God’s image in our new bodies.

I want to see the changes God is going to make in our bodies. The bible tells us that he will “change our vile bodies to be fashioned like unto his glorious body” so that we will have perfectly whole, healthy bodies. I want to see those who were crippled here, walking on the golden street there without even a limp. I want to see those who were blind, who’ll be there with perfect vision (better than 20/20 I’m sure). I want to see those whose minds had become dysfunctional, thinking with brilliant clarity and speaking cohesively.

I want to see the place that Jesus has prepared for me. The bible says that he created all things. They called him “carpenter” when he lived on the earth, so I’m quite sure he must have something extraordinary ready for each believer when that time comes for us to inherit the Kingdom.

I want to ask God some questions. Who knows? Once we enter our glorified state, all questions may be automatically answered for us. I’m very sure things will look much clearer from the other side, but I still wonder if there might be still many things to learn, for we will never know all that God knows (which is everything).

Some of the questions I’d like to have answered are: "How can you be one who lived in eternity past with no beginning and will never have an end?" "How did you plan everything out to perfection and still work around the sinfulness of mankind?"  "How can you be one God and yet exist in three persons?" I fully expect the one who knows all things to be able to answer all these things and so much more.

I want to see God’s new heaven and earth. I want to see the Holy city, the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God. The city will be roughly 1,400 miles long and 1,400 miles wide. But get this – 1,400 miles high! That’s about two and a half billion (2,500,000,000) cubic miles. Wow! I’ve never seen Jerusalem, God’s holy city in the land of Israel, though I’d love to. But I expect one day …… to see that New Jerusalem God has told us about in his word.

       No, I don’t have much of an earthly bucket list, but I have a bucket full of things I want to see in paradise. I pray that I’ll see you there.

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Scripture References: 

Acts 1.8; James 1-8; Revelation 22.4; John 20.27; Matthew 25.31; Revelation 1.17; Revelation 4.10; 1 Thessalonians 4.16-17; 2 Timothy 2.19; Hebrews 13.2; Revelation 4.8; 1 John 3.2; Revelation 21.27; 1 Corinthians 15.53-54; Philippians 3.21; Revelation 21.21; John 14.1; Colossians 1.16; Mark 6.3; 1 John 3.20; Isaiah 57.15; Ephesians 1.11; Isaiah 58.15; 1 John 5.7; Revelation 21.2; Revelation 21.16

Build that Wall. Build that Wall...

Photo by Daniel von Appen on Unsplash

Many agree that building a wall to keep out the enemy is a good idea. I support building a wall on our border if it can actually keep terrorists and intruders out of the country.

But there are problems with this concept. Historically, walls of this magnitude are not always impregnable and tend to give an enemy even more incentive to try to overcome them.

France had its Maginot Line which was initiated after World War I. It was strong and invincible at the German border but was weak along the Northeastern borders of France where there were neutral countries. Germany, under Hitler, came in through the lowlands of the Belgian border, where the wall was weak, to quickly come in and overtake France.

The Great Wall of China, thick and high, constructed by approximately 1,000,000 laborers, is said to be over 13,000 miles in length and constructed over hundreds of years. But we are told:

Several strong nomadic tribes in history had managed passage across the barrier. For instance, in 13th century, the Mongols led by Genghis Khan breached the wall and subjugated north and central China for nearly 100 years; in 1644, the Manchus, entering from Shanhaiguan resulted in the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.[i]

There is the old story of Troy, who also had a great wall (said to be 17 feet high and almost as thick at the bottom). As we know the story, the Greeks overtook them by getting inside through a large constructed horse on wheels under the guise of a gift. Once inside the gate, Greek soldiers sprung lose and began to fight and overcome the Trojans.

The point here is that it really doesn’t do much good to build a wall to keep problematic people out of our country if there is already great evil inside the country.

Nehemiah led the Israelis of his time to help him build a wall around Jerusalem (approximately 444-425 BC) to keep enemies out. This was accomplished swiftly by great effort, but Nehemiah knew that keeping enemies away from without was not enough. He emphasized their Spiritual condition as well. He knew it would be of no use to keep away invaders from the outside as long as there was still corruption inside.

In the book of Nehemiah, Ezra, the Scribe stood and read from God’s law to all the people for hours. Then it says:

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.[ii]

This began not only a Spiritual awakening among God’s people but also a reformation in which laws were put in place which were imperative for the people to live by.

Nikita Khrushchev, the Premiere of the old Soviet Union (Russia and its conquered states) was quoted to have said: “We will take America without firing a shot” and “We do not have to invade the U.S. - We will destroy you from within...”[iii] That was in 1956. Ironically, the Soviet Union no longer exists and America still does, but today, opposition is creating havoc once again for our country and the Marxist scheme of destroying America from within still rages on. This is real – not imagined!

Our country needs to become as concerned about what’s going on inside as we are about what’s going on around us. We should concern ourselves about some of the words being spoken by academia, Hollywood, the media and politicians inside America as much as about what Kim Jong Un is saying across the world.

If we apply this concept to our individual lives, we realize that “We have met the enemy and he is us.”[iv]

In the words of the Lord Jesus, What good does it do to “make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” Then he adds, “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” [v]

By another analogy; what good does it do us if we clean the outside of our bodies but on the inside we are racked by deathly disease?

Our bodies may look healthy outwardly but it is important for us all, through God’s word, to get a Spiritual angiogram. What does our heart look like? We are told in Proverbs to “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

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[i] https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/facts/

[ii] Nehemiah 8.5-6

[iii] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/111856-ussrkhrushchev-we-take-america-without-firing-ann-dickerson/

[iv] Pogo Comic strip – April 22, 1971

[v] Matthew 23.25-26