Finding Strength In Depression:I

DAY ONE

I began the seven day study because I found myself down and depressed. Nothing seemed to matter to me as I noticed myself drowning in my own thoughts. I picked up my phone and immediately went to my bible application (YouVersion), where I found this study.

• Psalm 42:5
•   Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God!
•  Reflection: When I read the first passage, I felt dumb-founded. I guess I was expecting to read a verse that would be difficult to understand, or one that would not cover exactly how I was feeling. I asked myself the first two questions the verse asked and I could not come up with an answer. That is when I realized that I wasn’t me! It was the devil trying to distract me and grab my attention. He was attacking me and I had let me wall of protection fall. Once I realized it was not myself, and that Satan was attacking me I got angry. I wanted to end the attack right then and there, so I did exactly what the last of that verse states. I praised my God and my Savior. Playing worship music from my phone I got on face in the middle of my living room and called out to Him! I was glad that my husband was not home or he would have come running thinking I was hurt or something. I am pretty sure my pets thought I was crazy.
•  Psalm 4:1
•  Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
• Reflection: Have you ever felt as if God is ignoring you? Or feel as if you are not worthy of His help when you are in need? I know that I have felt both of those feelings. We are not to question God but to put complete faith in him, but I have been guilty of asking him ‘Why’. When my father was killed in a car wreck a little over a year ago, I asked him why he had to take him then. When I was so depressed I thought about taking my life, I asked several times why he was letting this happen to me. Why was my family falling apart? Why couldn’t I talk to anyone? Why couldn’t I just be normal? After praying over this passage for a few minutes, he gave me a revelation.
  
• If you were given a homework assignment with a partner, both of you are to do their share of the work. If one of you fails to do their share the work is considered incomplete. If you sit on a bicycle you cannot go anywhere without peddling to make the wheels go. You either stay in one place, or do your share of the work to get to where you need to go. One person cannot be in a marriage because it takes both of you to make it work. Your bible sits on your coffee table; however, it cannot read itself to you. You must first pick it up, open it, and read. You must reach out to God, for him to ‘free you of your troubles’. 

Personal Prayer: Lord I ask you for your help. I ask you open my heart and soul wide open and have your way in my life. I asked you to change the things you see wrong in my life by bringing them to my attention. Lord, I love you and want to praise you daily; not just during the storms. I ask for a new love on your Word, and ask for you to increase my hunger for you. I ask that you touch each life as they read this, and open their life you for. Help my walk shine with your love so others may also see the light. Thank you for the blessing you have given me and my family. Help us continue to grow closer together, as well as closer to you. I love you Lord. Amen.

Reflection: a thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation.