Voices in my head part 2 came earlier than I thought! 😅
One of the main reasons for the first blog was to educate us on depression from someone who has been there. It is and can be a very devastating medical condition and leaves many a family in a state of shock and turmoil when the affected individual’s life is lost by whatever means.
What does the Good Book say?
John 10:10 NIV – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV – The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
The mind is a battlefield and many a battle are fought in the mind. Let’s consider this fact- the devil had the audacity to tempt the only begotten Son of God (Jesus); how much more His followers?
Consider this verse.
Luke 4:13 NIV – When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
We are in a war and it is for our very souls.
1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV – Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings
BUT GOD!
How can depression be overcome?
My first answer is God.
How does one overcome the voices?
• Rebuke them in the Name of Jesus
• Fill your mind with the Word of God. Read Philippians 4:8
• Deliverance ie prayer and fasting.
I will never discount the role of medication in the management of this condition. I myself took medication at a point in my journey,..BUT GOD!
There is also the role of CBT – cognitive behavioral therapy. Each case is individualized. It is an evidence based goal oriented form of talk therapy that helps individuals manage problems by changing negative or unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and operates on the principle that thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected and that by changing one, individuals can influence the others. That’s what I do. I see a clinical psychologist, who is a Christian and now a friend. I have a psychiatrist sister in the Lord who checks in with me from time to time.
One key lesson I have learnt is not to make decisions when I am hungry, angry or tired.
I fill my mind with the word of God, music which is uplifting and a circle of family and friends who encourage me in the Lord.
I have also learnt to embrace my feelings – but not to stay down in my low moments, for I know the downward spiral that can occur.
Key for me is my faith. I fix my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of my faith.
Recall how Jesus came walking on water and what happened to Peter. I fix my eyes on Jesus and not the storm. Christ is my firm foundation.
He is the Anchor that keeps my soul steadfast and sure as the billows roll.
I am not unaware of the devices of the evil one, but I have the mighty warrior on my side.
I am reminded that He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world.
Yes, things may happen to shake me, but it leads me to the Cross and to the Rock which is higher than I.
Amen and amen!!
Praaaaaaaaaise the Lord! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Hallelujah!
God bless you!
😊🙏🏽
