Fighting Depression
Scripture reading for September 3: Psalm 42:7-11 “Deep calls to deep at the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my Rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my Salvation and my God.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Another common malady of our day is depression and anxiety. When we don’t have God at the center of our life, our problems loom over us as giants that taunt us by day and by night. When we focus our minds on our problems, even believers can begin to question God as David did in this psalm of worship. He felt God had forgotten him and his enemies also taunted him with “Where is your God?” These questions, doubts and fears brought David down in his soul and there was turmoil.
To combat this attack of unbelief, David had a conversation with his soul. He asked himself why he would be in such turmoil and downcast? He spoke an encouraging word to his own soul: ‘Hope in God!’ He began to praise God for Who He was to him, his Salvation and personal Lord. This deliberate confrontation of his inner turmoil brought his soul back out of the mire of self-pity and doubt.
In the New Testament, Peter tells believers to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God by casting all their anxiety on Him. They are reminded that God cares for them and knows how to carry them through whatever trial is causing them turmoil. God will exalt them in the proper time. He is never early and never late, even though our soul feelings may say otherwise!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, today I humble myself to cast all my load of cares on You because You care for me! I will praise You for Your great salvation! You are my Hope! Amen!
Pay it Forward!
Scripture reading for September 2: Psalm 41:1-3 “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him: the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness You restore him to full health.”
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
God is merciful to the poor and needy. His example should flow to those who love Him and are filled with His Holy Spirit. In most societies, the poor are neglected or taken advantage of. They are often judged by others for their state of poverty. They are often called ‘lazy’ or labeled as bums or beggars. Sometimes they are homeless and many suffer from addiction and the consequences of their own sins. Some have physical deformities and others mental illness. But even in the covenant of law, God called His people to be kind and generous to the poor and Jesus was always mindful of the poor and needy.
King David spoke prophetically of the faithful believer who was blessed by considering the poor. He plainly stated that in their day of trouble the Lord would deliver them. It was kind of like paying it forward. If you cared for the poor and helped them, then God would assure that in your need, you would find help. If your enemy was bent on killing you, God would keep you alive. If you were cursed by your enemy, God would make you blessed and not give you up to the destructive purposes of your enemy. Finally, if you were attacked by sickness, disease, or plague, God would sustain you during the illness and restore you to full health. That sounds like the kind of deal I want in on!
Prayer: Lord, thank You for showing us Your heart of mercy for the poor and the incentives You offer Your people to care for them as an extension of Your hand. I want to receive Your blessings and say ‘Amen’ to the promises of protection, deliverance, and healing. Show me what You want me to do for the poor in my life. Amen.
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Sin leads to Disease
Scripture reading for September 1: Psalm 38:3-9 “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You.”
Psalm 38:21-22 “Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.”
Confession is good for the soul. Although he knew that God knew everything he was going through, the psalmist, King David, here took ownership of his own sin and iniquity. He stated the condition of his body, mind and soul as he endured the consequences of his sin. David likened the weight of sin as a heavy burden that crushed him down. The foolishness of sin brought wounds to his body that were festering and smelled rotten. David’s bones hurt and his sides were burning with pain. All these consequences had made the king feeble and he groaned out of the tumult of his heart. He shared his pain, suffering and longing before the Lord in this mournful song of worship.
The worship song has a faith-filled ending with a cry to God for help. He asked God not to forsake him in his sins and suffering. He called God ‘my God’ out of a personal relationship and ‘Lord’ out of respect and honor. He asked God to please hurry. He declared that God was “my salvation”, again a personal claiming of God’s saving ability from sin and it’s deadly consequences. Have you ever considered a song of confession to God? Have you personally addressed God as “my God” and “my salvation”?
Prayer: Father God, although I can’t sing well, I thank You for this example of a humble confession of sin and sickness by King David. His song reminds me that sin has terrible consequences and hurt us and others. It reminds me to honor God through calling on Him for mercy and healing. O Lord, hasten to help me! You alone are my salvation. Amen!
God Reveals the Path of Life!
Scripture reading for August 31: Psalm 16:7-11 “I bless the Lord Who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one come to the Father except through Me.”
The psalmist was worshiping God with this psalm of declaration. He declared God as his Counselor, who is instructing him in the night seasons when darkness seeks to overwhelm. He declared that God is his “right hand” and that makes him secure in the darkness and shaking of the enemy. He declared that his flesh would dwell secure and that he lived a life of rejoicing because of God’s presence. In his rejoicing, he declared his belief that God would not abandon him to the place of the departed dead or allow his flesh to see decay. In God, he has found the path of eternal life leading to God’s presence and fullness of joy forever.
Our health and mental well-being are tied to our faith in God. When we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth the sufficiency of God to meet our deepest needs, our faith brings vision and revelation of God’s ‘path of life’ available to all through faith. Jesus declared that He Alone was the Way to the Father and in Him was eternal life. These truths reveal to those who will believe that the path of life eternal is found in a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is raised from the dead and now seated at God’s right hand. In Him we are seated there as well and find eternal pleasures forever!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing the only path to Life eternal and joy forever in Your Son Jesus, our Lord! I bless the Lord at all times and His praise is in my heart and mouth. Amen!
Arise, O Lord!
Scripture reading for August 28: Psalm 10:12, 17-18 “Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted. . . .O Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that the man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 “. . .for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
The psalmist in Psalm 10 struggles with thinking that the Lord is far away from him in his time of trouble. He questions ‘why’ he feels isolated from God. It appears that the wicked are prospering even though they forget God and even curse Him. They break His laws with impunity thinking in their hearts that God doesn’t see or care what they do. This is often the mindset of those suffering from sickness, disease, or oppression in its various tormenting forms. Their feelings are based on their visual observations and experience in the world and this leads to despair.
But God tells us to call out to Him in our afflictions. “Arise, O Lord” is the cry of the believer who trusts in God. They ask God to take notice and take action on their behalf. They confess in faith that God will not forget them as He has said that He would never leave us or forsake us. If God has promised, then that is the reality that the believer acts on. They don’t rely on their feelings or what the circumstances tell them through their natural senses. They trust God’s Word and His eternal power and ability to act on their behalf. They choose not to fear man or their enemy that is attacking them or sickness or disease. They confidently state; “I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Because they believe by faith that God hears and will act, they rest in Him Alone.
Prayer: Father God, thank You that in Your Son Jesus Christ, You arose and lifted up the Man of Your Right Hand. He bore all of our afflictions and oppression in His body on the cross that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. We confidently confess: “The Lord is my Helper!” Amen!
Stronghold for the oppressed!
Scripture reading for August 27th: Psalm 9:9-11 “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the Lord, Who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples His deeds!”
John 16:23-24 “In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
There are many kinds of oppression in our fallen world. People are often oppressed because of prejudice against races or nationalities. They may be mocked and relegated to the lowest place in a country or people group. They may be taken advantage of or sold into slavery for labor or sexual pleasure. The psalmist declares a truth about His Lord concerning oppression and those in trouble: God is faithful! All who put their trust in Him and know His Name, calling on Him and seeking His help will never be forsaken or left to the enemy.
The Name of the Lord often declares His character and benefits. In the last devotion we found that God was our Shield, Glory, and the lifter of our heads. God is our Healer, providing remedy for disease as well as protection from disease. In the New Testament, Jesus encouraged His disciples to begin asking the Father directly in His Name for whatever they had need of and they would receive it. Our Lord Jesus is truly a ‘Stronghold’ in times of trouble or oppression. No weapon formed against us will prosper! Our God shall meet all our needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ Name, we take You at Your Word today and ask You to lift our oppression from sickness and disease. You Alone are our Stronghold in oppression. We will worship You and tell among the peoples Your amazing deeds of answering our prayers! Amen!
Blessed Sleep
Scripture reading for August 26: Psalm 3:3-6 “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy hill. (Selah) I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
One of the common health issues of our time is sleeplessness. This malady can come from a number of causes from worry and fear to physical problems like sleep apnea and insomnia. God’s Word in Psalms addresses this issue of sleeplessness coming from fear. The psalmist knows and declares by faith that God is his Shield of protection. Even if thousands were arrayed against him, he could still lie down and sleep because God would sustain him. God would nourish his soul and bring him through the night with refreshing sleep. God would also be his Glory and the lifter of his head when burdened down by worry or fear. When the psalmist contemplated God’s glory, his focus was on the greatness and splendor of God and problems melted into the background.
Jesus gave an invitation to all who were weary and heavy with the cares of life. He invited them to come to Him and cast all their cares on Him. They were to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him. He was gentle and humble and through surrender to Him, they would find the rest that they so desperately needed. If you struggle with sleep issues or rest issues, finding yourself tired all the time, why not take Jesus at His Word?
Prayer: Father God, I come to You at Your Word that promises refreshing and sustaining sleep and rest from life’s burdens. Teach me Your humble and gentle way of living, trusting fully in God to meet all my needs. I will find true rest in You. Thank You Lord! Amen!
Connected to God’s Health Plan
Scripture reading for August 25: Psalm 1:1-4 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”
3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”
Psalms is the worship song book of the Bible. This first chapter of Psalms begins the worship extoling the blessedness of the person who delights in God and His law and Word. This person does not walk in the counsel of wicked and godless people. They choose not to become a scoffer at God’s Word or of those who choose to listen and obey. The way of the world is to mock God’s Word and to ridicule those believing and obeying. But the blessed man delights in God and His laws and places by choice his mind and thoughts on what God has said. He begins his day that way and ends it in the same manner. Even in the night seasons, he awakes to think on God and His goodness and laws. This choice of mindset brings fruitfulness. The psalmist describes this person as a tree planted by a stream of water that always yielded fruit. Even in a drought, it stayed healthy and strong because roots were tapped into the flowing stream.
The worship song goes on to state that the path of the wicked was not like the blessedness enjoyed by the seeker of God. The wicked were likened to chaff driven by the wind. It was good for nothing and could reproduce nothing. It is God’s desire for us to have the blessed life and in His mercy He has shown us the way by faith in His Son and His Word! Thank You Lord for the stream of Your blessings to the faithful!
Father God, keep me focused and delighted in Your Son and Your amazing Word. All fruitfulness comes from taping into the stream of Your love and grace. Amen.
The Best is Yet to Come!
Scripture reading for August 24: Job 42:8, 10-12 “Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken what is right, as My servant Job has.” . . .”And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning.”
For me, a good story has an interesting beginning and a happy ending. The story of Job is one of the oldest recorded in the Bible, set before the time of Abraham. Job was a man of faith and prosperous and known for his righteousness and generosity. Satan, the villain, comes before God and accuses Job of serving God for what benefits God blessed him with. God allows Satan to afflict Job, taking first his family and possessions, and then his health. His wife becomes bitter and his friends turn against him by accusing him of harboring sin or wickedness as the cause of his sickness and trials.
But God did not fail Job, even in these trials He had allowed Satan to bring. God gave Job faith to stay true. He revealed to Job answers to his deepest needs for a Redeemer and an Advocate. He showed him that even after death, resurrection would occur and he would behold His Redeemer with his own eyes on the earth. (Job 19:25-26) In the end, He answered Job’s prayer to meet with God by coming near and questioning him. The questions were to reveal to Job God’s greatness, power, and eternal plans and to bring Job to new levels of faith and prayer. After repentance and praying for his friends, Job was restored double all that he lost! Even in this, we see God’s amazing mercy. Job had more children–the same amount as he lost. This implied that he would see his children he lost again in heaven! The best is yet to come! Amen!
Job’s Repentance
Scripture reading for August 21: Job 42:1-6 “Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Job had requested an audience with God and God had appeared to him and began asking him questions that revealed Job’s total lack of understanding and wisdom. Although Job had maintained his faith, he had made statements that were not right and were presumptive. Through God’s amazing questions, Job began to see his own shortcomings and presumption. Job also saw more clearly the vast wisdom and power of the Lord and how His plans and purposes were established. Nothing could stop God Who knows everything and is all-powerful.
Whenever anyone draws near to God or God reveals His presence and holiness, man’s response should be humility and repentance. As we go through the trials of sickness and demonic attack, it is good to stay humble and teachable. God wants us to come to Him and recognize Him as all-knowing and all-powerful. We should be careful of how we speak, remembering that our words have power and Satan wants to get us into doubt and unbelief. Paul encouraged the Philippians to focus on God–He alone is good and excellent and worthy of praise. We must practice this positive focus after giving all our concerns to God in prayer. He hears and will answer us, sometimes with questions that help us know His power and ability better. Amen!