Overcoming Depression

Do you struggle with depression? I did from the time I was a teenager until just a few years ago. Depression can be completely crippling! It ranges from mild self-pity to complete darkness and despair. Depression interferes with your life and can keep you from functioning normally. It not only hurts you but your loved ones are affected as well.

Here are some things that God has taught me about overcoming depression:

1. The first thing is to realize that depression is a spiritual problem. It causes physical problems but the root cause is spiritual. Depression is a demonic spirit! Ephesians 6:12 says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Satan will try to bring us down in any way he possibly can! One of his most effective tools is depression.
The Bible says that in the name of Jesus we have authority over satan! So after recognizing what depression is we are now able to fight it!
We have to learn to recognize when we are being attacked by depression. Satan will use any opportunity that he can. What are your triggers? For me, it was any little disappointment or problem or when I started to feel bad physically. Then you will notice some thought patterns that repeat themselves, such as, "nothing will ever get better, poor me, I am so depressed". This is satan whispering these things in your ear. Then you take the thought for yourself by thinking, "ya, I am so depressed..." then more and more depressing thoughts start coming and before you know it you are having a full blown pity party!
The very first thing to do is recognize these triggers and then immediately pray. I pray like this, "Satan, you are a liar, Depression, I bind you in the name of Jesus and I command you to flee from me. God I thank you that I am free from depression and that the joy of the Lord is my strength!" I start to speak scripture over myself. I put on praise music and worship. I think of things that I am thankful for and start thanking God. Worshiping God and being thankful are some of the fastest ways of getting rid of depression!
Now, you are not going to feel like doing these things. You are going to feel like having a pity party and calling all your friends and inviting them. But this will just make things worse and it will be harder to get out of the depressive state. You have to force yourself to do what you know you need to do!

2. Get your mind off of yourself. Start praying for others. Start thinking of ways you can bless others! Love is a mighty weapon and satan cannot stand against it! He will not know what to do when you start actively loving others when you are (in his eyes) supposed to be depressed! This will throw him into confusion! Don't you love it?

3. Read, memorize, and meditate a scripture! Read about the armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6! Put that armor on! When you speak the scripture out loud you are using the sword of the spirit and robbing satan of his power to harm you! So speak that word, out loud!!!!

4. If you have been stuck in the house, get out for awhile. Walk around in the sunshine. Go visit someone who is lonely.

5. Go to church whenever possible. Again, you will not feel like it! But you will be so glad once you get there! Just get up and force yourself to go!

6. Sometimes, the feeling of depression is so overwhelming that you just need someone to stand with you in prayer. Find that person who you know will pray in faith believing and who really understands depression and ask them to pray for you. You can ask me anytime!

7. Listen to some preaching tapes. Read some really good Christian help books. Joyce Meyer has some amazing ones. My two all time favorites by Joyce are "Battlefield of the Mind" and "Reduce me to Love". These books will change your life, read them! I still read them again and again!

Do what you have to do to fight depression. Whatever you do, don't decide to let yourself have a little pity party before you start fighting. Big mistake!

The Bible says we are to be transformed by the continual renewing of our minds! This means we must be renewing our minds constantly, not just once or twice a week at church! We have to always be in the Word!
I'm praying for you!