Friday January 15th, 2021
Memorize: John 14:18 Good News Translations (GNT)
« Jesus said “When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. »
Read: Psalms 40:1-5 New King James Versions (NKJV)
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done;
and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order;
if I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.
Message:
Yesterday, we looked at how a relationship with Christ can drive depression away from a person’s life.
However, once in a while, Christians also get depressed.
A Christian may get depressed when life’s challenges make them lose sight of how great God is or how much He loves them.
I have experienced this before. I was already the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God then, and the Church was growing, but somehow, I felt the people I was pastoring did not care about me. I felt I was laboring in prayers and fasting for them, but they didn’t care, so I decided that I was going to resign as the General Overseer of the Church.
With my decision made, I took a nap and when I woke, there was a young girl who had come to see me. She said God told her to come and give me a cake. I was so touched by that gesture that even though I don’t like cake so much, I ate that one. Then God said I thought you said no one cared.
I realized that I had paid so much attention to appreciation from the people that I did not remember how much God cares for and loves me.
Now, when as a believer you are feeling depressed, what you need is to go deep into the presence of God because Psalm 16:11 NKJV says:
« You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. »
You cannot be engulfed in the presence of God and not feel His love and care for you; that love you feel will bring joy to your soul.
How can you get into the presence of God?
Simple. Through praise and worship.
David said in Psalms 100:4 that with thanksgiving, you enter into the gates of God and with praises, you enter into His courtyard.
When you praise and worship God for a long period of time, you will feel His presence come down greatly and since in His presence there is fullness of joy, you will begin to feel a joy that is beyond understanding.
That is why Isaiah 61:3 GNT says a garment of praise will replace a spirit of heaviness:
« To give to those who mourn in Zion Joy and gladness instead of grief, a song of praise instead of sorrow. »
Prayer point: Father, please give me a garment of praise in place of every heaviness in my heart.
Author: Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Text edited by Naomie
Sharing is caring, kindly distribute this devotion, and the Lord will bless you for it.
Thank you for being a blessing to me by clicking on the heart.
Please don’t forget to subscribe to Coping Words.
