Dear beloved: For those struggling with issues of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness, we need to look to the word of God and to Jesus for relief of these states of mind that lead to a place of darkness. We know that the devil will do everything in his power to take us away from God's plan for our life, and we also know that through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can be an overcomer and not just survive, but be a conqueror. I have seen this happen in my own life as well as in the lives of those I have been privileged to minister to and counsel.
God's word gives us specific encouragement regarding the issue of a strong mind. 2 Timothy 2:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. So we see that the one of the primary ways the devil attacks us is through the spirit of fear. When these attacks are successful, we begin to fear moving forward into our destiny, our calling, and we fear even relationships with people who could help us and be our allies. If we look to the world for the antidote to the fear, the world will encourage us to take pharmaceutical drugs to "lift us" out of the despair or anxiety, or at the least keep the situation stable. However, often the result is increased anxiety, weakness, and a separation from our will, emotions, and true feelings. Certainly not power, and not a sound mind, and not much love either, as people fight for survival just to function in that mindset.
Though it sounds simplistic, and should not be looked at as an overnight turnaround (though I certainly don't discount the possibility of miraculous, instantaneous breakthroughs), to look to Jesus is the answer to these debilitating attacks on the mind. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. Paul was writing to baby Christian believers in Corinth, comparing the solutions the world gives for problems compared to how God gives solutions to those who put their trust in Him. 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. v13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. v14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.
Beloved, God has a better plan than the world's plan of inundating our soul and holy temple with all the mind numbing drugs; God's plan is for us to climb up out of the valley and get onto the mountain. I will be writing on specific steps to take for the believer to take that will get him on the path to recovery, to restore the hope and joy that God has for us. May God bless you this day as you pray, in Christ, Jim www.jimrowh.blogspot.com
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