Deliverance from Depression

Why do Christians get depressed? The same reason that the world gets depressed… thinking (meditating) on things we have no business thinking about. You might think it’s simply because of something you did but in reality it’s what you think about what you did! Now I'm not speaking about medical conditions that may bring on depression but I'm referring to those of us that find ourselves depressed over situations that have taken place. Take a look…

In 1st Sam 29 we find David in the land of his “once” enemies because he had fled from Saul. He offered to go and fight along with the Philistines but they refused his help not knowing whether or not David would turn on them during the battle. When David returned to his camp in Ziklag this is what he discovered.
1Sa 30:1-3 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

Can you imagine, when you left everyone was having a good time, healthy and not a care in the world, but by the time you get back all hell had seemed to attack you without mercy. Yes, you know exactly what I mean. Here David is faced with a hopeless situation… that is in the natural, but remember …you serve the Lord God who is not bound by the natural. (see my teaching “the unseen option”). As they think about what has happened the result is depression. It’s not based on what happened but how they judge what happened.
1Sa 30:4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

Our thoughts control our imagination.
1Sa 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

David went from being ‘depressed’ because of the loss of everything too being ‘distressed’ because of the threat against his life. What we meditate on controls our emotions. It’s not what happens but how we judge ourselves in what has happened. When we allow our thoughts to condemn us we get depressed… it is in our control. In the message bible the end of that 6th verse says “David strengthened himself with trust in his GOD”.

How can we walk free of depression? By 1st remembering our value in God’s eyes (not in our own eyes). Think about it. The only way to measure your own self worth is to look at how much you cost. Jesus said “Father, if there is any other way to get your children back to you let this cup pass from me”. But there was no other way. You see… Jesus was the precious price for God’s precious prize… You and Me! Stop measuring yourself by yourself and don’t allow anyone else to dictate to you what your self-worth is. God is your maker!
Rom 8:31-34 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won't He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand, pleading for us.

Even though terrible events may have occurred that you are responsible for, mistakes have been made that could have been avoided, God is not holding those things against you. Did you deny Christ? I didn’t think so, but even if you did so did Peter. Peter repented and became a pillar for the church! God saw everything we were going to do even after we got saved and still chose us. “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes”. (Eph 1:4 nlt)

As you read on you’ll find that God gave David a solution in the midst of a terrible situation because David took the time to seek God. God has given us a precious promise… Heb 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

God’s instructions for deliverance from depression is as follows:
Phi 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Phi 4:7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Phi 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Be Blessed.