Breaking Free From Depression:
God's Prescription

Hopefully you've come to see the way your mind, body, and spirit work together. We now know that negative emotions can sometimes lead to depression. So far, we've looked at scientific principles and the Bible to help us in this spiritual battle.

Ultimately, God gives us a remedy through His Son, His Word, and His world. We see this through looking at our minds, bodies, and spirits once more.

We have learned about the importance of the brain in the way we operate. This part is very important! In order for the brain to operate effectively, it needs a few things. First, a healthy diet—the brain needs specific nutrients to function properly.

Second, exercise—through exercise, oxygen gets to your brain, and your brain releases feel-good endorphins. Third, no drugs or alcohol—these are toxic to the brain, impair judgment, and cause poor decisions and addiction.

We've also discussed our most powerful weapon—decision-making—and how our minds need to be renewed by it. Over time, as our Godly decisions positively rework the wiring of our brains, we build stronger thinking and life skills and life gets better.

Just think of working out—the more we lift weights, the stronger our muscles get and the workout gets easier. Good decision-making is like exercise for your mind.

Yet, we have another physical weapon for our spiritual battle and that's medications. While psychiatric medications don't cure any disorder alone, they are helpful as they dramatically reduce symptoms and their impact. This can buy us more time to apply permanent remedies such as diet and exercise; psychological skills including stress and time management, conflict resolution, relationship and emotion management skills, and self-discipline; as well as spiritual skills like dependence on God and applying His principles.

As we water and nurture these positive habits, they bear fruit in several months. Some people fear medications, but God has provided them through science to help us function better - when they're prescribed by a professional and taken appropriately.

Ultimately, we need power, strategy, and leadership from God in our fight against sin, death, and the devil. The greatest weapons we have are the death and resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit living in us, and God's Word, the B.I.B.L.E. It's the Best Instruction Book for Living Everyday. Lean on them!

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Godʼs mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Godʼs will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

Experiencing Hope and Healing In A Fallen World:
WEAKNESS ON THE INSIDE

We all know life can be hard. That's why one of the secrets to a successful life is being stronger on the inside than the challenges life confronts us with.

Here in Colorado, we sometimes experience Chinook winds up and down the front range of the Rocky Mountains. These weather systems produce dangerous wind gusts known to top 100 miles per hour. You can imagine the damage they cause. It's not uncommon for a mature tree that has stood for decades to be snapped in half. But I've noticed something: When that happens, it often says more about the weakness of the tree than the strength of the wind.

Before a windstorm, you may have walked by a tree towering into the air and been impressed by its strength. But then a storm comes, and you suddenly discover what's been happening inside the tree. It's been rotting away from within and growing weaker with each passing year. It was only a matter of time before the tree cracked under the pressure.

Our lives aren't really all that different. We may ignore the anger or bitterness we feel against other people. Or we entertain unhealthy thoughts and behavior, thinking they'll be of no real consequence to us. But, those things weaken our mind and our character – that is, our inner life. Sooner or later, the winds of life will blow, and the pressure on us will be intense. To survive those storms, we need the inner strength we gain from our integrity, our faith in Christ, and the support instilled within us from family and friends.

For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly's blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.

""But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.""
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17:7-8‬ ‭