21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 8

21 Days to Beat Depression
Written By Carol McLeod
21 Days.png

21 Days To Beat Depression - Day 8

"But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22 & 23

Joy is not a natural response to life but it is a supernatural, Christ-like response to life.  That is why the Bible calls “joy” a “fruit of the Spirit” and not of your personality.  Joy is not a knee-jerk reaction to your circumstances but it is a miraculous moment in a dark and dying world when His presence is revealed through your life.  The joy that you experience and demonstrate is birthed from a relationship with Him.

You were not made for depression or to demonstrate a critical spirit; you were not made for gossip or for bitterness.  You were not made to give your husband the silent treatment, to create friction in the church or to yell in anger at your children.  You were made for joy!

God made your human body to be a perfect carrier for the joy of heaven’s reality while living in the soil of humanity.  You are a perfect fit for His joy!  He made you so that He could fill your life with all of the joy that was missing on earth during your tenure here.  Don’t waste one more day filled with discouragement, depression or sadness!  Plant yourself in His presence until you know that you know that you know that you are filled to overflowing with one of the greatest miracles that humankind has ever experienced:  the miracle of joy!

What would happen if rather than putting gas in the tank of my car that I decided to save a little bit of money and fill the gas tank with sand instead?  Not only would I never reach my destination but I would also ruin the car!  This is also a very sad picture of what happens when Christians try to run their lives by filling up on depression, anger or bitterness.  You will never reach your destination in life and you just might ruin your opportunity to live a life of meaning and purpose while on earth.

You were designed to be a fruit-bearing Christian!  You will never bear the fruit that you were designed to bear unless you hang out with Jesus.  Every day ... all day long just marinate in Who He is and all that He has for you.  Fertilize your life with the Word of God, with worship and with prayer.  To the extent that Jesus occupies your whole being is the extent to which you will produce joy!

  • MAKING IT PRACTICAL -

  1. Today, go back through the first 7 days of “21 Days to Beat Depression!” and re-read the Scripture verse from each day. After you have done that, turn on a favorite worship CD and spend some time just thanking God for Who He is and for what He has done for you.

  2. Guess what?! It’s time to be thankful again! Get out your “Thanksgiving Every Day of the Year” journal and record 3 more things for which you are grateful. Maybe there were no bills in the mail today... that’s something for which you can thank God! Maybe you had tomato soup for lunch and it is your very favorite! Maybe God spoke to you while you were reading this devotional plan. And... don’t forget... publicize your gratitude with #21daystobeatdepression

  • DECLARATION -

I declare today that I am a carrier of heaven’s joy!  My life, from this day forward, will bring joy to a lost and dying world.  I declare that depression and discouragement will not fill the empty spaces in my life but that joy will be my chief commodity!  When people take a bite of my life... they will taste joy!

  • PRAYER FOR TODAY -

“Father, I love You!  I love everything about You!  I am honored that You would trust me to carry the joy of heaven!  I know that I have made mistakes in the past and allowed the darkness of my pain to fill my heart, but I thank You that today is a new day of joy.  Fill me today with the joy of Your presence.  In the matchless Name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.”

Subscribe to Carol's Blog by Email

Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
Previous

21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 9
Next

21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 7