21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 9

21 Days to Beat Depression
Written By Carol McLeod
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21 Days To Beat Depression - Day 9

“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” - I Thessalonians 1:6 You know ... there is just something about the Bible that is able to deliver joy in the very worst of times.  There is something miraculously indescribable about the work that the Word of God can do in the most wounded of hearts.

Do you want to know what I believe?  I believe that when the Holy Spirit wrote I Thessalonians through Paul ... He didn’t just have the church in Thessalonica in mind ... but the Holy Spirit had YOU in mind!!

While you are going through a time of tribulation and thus discouragement and perhaps depression ... you need the joy that only the Word of God and the Holy Spirit can deliver!

May I share some of my favorite Scriptures with you today?  I pray that these verses taken from the greatest Book of all time will do more to heal your soul than the most powerful anti-depressant, the best earthly psychologist or even an IV of chocolate!!

"Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart.” - Jeremiah 15:16

“My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your Word.” - Psalm 119:28

“I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love.  And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; and I will meditate on Your statutes.” - Psalm 119:47 & 48

The Word of God will strengthen you in ways that nothing else has the power to  because the Bible is a rich power source like no other!  It is better than an excellent counselor, a best friend, a good book or even a loving husband.  Never underestimate the healthy emotional life that can be attained simply by reading the Bible!  When you are weeping or when you are grieving ... the very first place that you should turn is to the Word!

And then ... hunker down and stay in that place until you are filled with the supernatural, incomparable, miraculous power of heaven!  And then ... stay there longer!

So many Christians, when they are going through a challenging time emotionally, lay their Bibles aside with these sorry excuses:

“I am too weary too read ... I am too shell-shocked to read ... I am too depressed to read the Bible.”

The very time that you need what only the Word can offer is precisely when you are weary ... shell-shocked ... and depressed!

The Word of God is your comfort when you are going through a fire so please don’t set it aside but wring the truth and joy out of it every single day of your life.

And now... if you will excuse me... I need to go and read my Bible!

  • MAKING IT PRACTICAL -

  1. What is your favorite Bible verse? Take the time today to share it with someone in your life. You might want to share it on Facebook or through Twitter with #21daystobeatdepression. Or, simply share it with a family member or a friend. Their life will be enriched and encouraged by your gift of hope!

  2. Three more things! You can do it! List three more things for which you are thankful today! Don’t forget: #21daystobeatdepression!

  • DECLARATION -

I declare today that the Word of God is doing a miracle inside of me!  I declare that as I read God’s Word that it is healing me and setting me free from depression!  I declare that the Bible is bringing me the gift of joy!

  • PRAYER FOR TODAY -

“Jesus, I love You so much and today, I thank You for the Bible.  Thank You when the Holy Spirit was writing the Bible through the men whom you chose, that You were thinking about me.  Thank You that the Bible has the power to heal me and to enable me to walk in Your joy!  In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.”

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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!
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21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 8