Christian Depression
There are many Christians that experience deep depressions. We must first of all know that this feeling is more than likely a spirit of depression.
Isaiah 61:3: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
The symptoms of depression can include: sorrow of grief, excessive mourning, despair, depression, hopelessness, dejection, loneliness, self-pity, disappointment, and insomnia. The spirit of depression can stop of Christian in their tracks and cause them to be non-productive in the spirit realms and in the natural realms.
For example, when we have a loved one to die there is an natural period of grief. However, we should not continue to mourn for an indefinite amount of time. Grief in a short period can give us time to get rid of emotions that we should not keep inside us. Otherwise, we give ground to the spirit of depression. The secret is to allow the Holy Spirit through our relationship with the Lord to heal us. Additionally, we should seek to connect with the Christians that we have been associated with to find comfort. We should release this grief to the Lord and go on with life the best way that we can.
Isaiah 53:4: Surely He hath borne our grief and carried our sorrows.
When we trust in the Lord and not dwell on the past problems or sorrows we can be victorious in the war of depression. Most people (including Christian), are dwelling on past problems and woes prior to falling into the spirit of depression. We should cast all our cares on the Lord. However, in addition to casting our cares on the Lord we should also be doing our warfare over the mind to combat the thoughts of the devil. This is truly where the battle of depression will be defeated: is in the mind.
1 Peter 5:7:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5:For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
When a Christian can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, train themselves to take authority over the thoughts that come in the mind, there the spirit of depression will not have a stronghold. Training of the mind is done by day to day practice of spiritual warfare tactics of binding and loosing and praying the scriptures.
Matthew 16:18-19 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18-20 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Find more answers at https://answerstolife.tv with Pastor Dennis