Overcoming Depression and Stress
“David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men. And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.” (1 Samuel 22:1-5)
Today’s Morsel: Some of the greatest weapons the enemy uses against the church is fear and phycological warfare. In other words, the enemy is out to get into your head and control your mind. He knows that if he can torment you and confuse you, he can defeat you or cause you to hurt yourself. Depression and stress are just a loss of focus of who you are and who you belong to. In my 40 years of ministry, everyone that I have counselled with who is living in a state of depression and stress is that they have lost focus. They have taken their minds off Jesus and His word and has placed it on others, their situation, or themselves. The devil knows the word of God. And he knows that the answer to every problem and situation is found in the word of God. And so his goal is to get your mind off Christ and His word so that he can defeat you. When the people came to David, notice their condition. And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him. They came to him for help. And while David was in the fort, the prophet came to him and told him to get into Judah. Judah means praise. You can’t sit behind a wall and fortress thinking that you are going to find relief from depression and stress. You must get yourself into Judah. You must get up and start praising God and get back to the house of God, so that you can overcome. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6) The only way to overcome is to keep our mind on Jesus, keep your focus and praise on Him.
Sing: What a friend we have in Jesus, all or sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in pray. Oh, what peace we often forfeit; oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share. We should never be discouraged, just take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Thought For Today: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 121:1-2)
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