February 09, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"He Will Lifted You Out of the Pit of Destruction..."
Psalm 23:4
(New King James Version)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The word "depression" connotes a full range of meanings in our culture, from a quick, temporary feeling of hurt or disappointment, to a state of being physically and emotionally incapacitated by long-term feelings of intense sadness. There are also many ideas as to the sources of depression: lack of appropriate care as children; stress due to significant loss; negative thinking; repressed anger; and a number of biological causes, from injury to hormonal imbalances to nerve damage.
Just as there are multiple sources of depression, so there are multiple ways to receive help: Physically, you may need- ·Rest. ·Exercise. ·Improved dietary habits. Emotionally, you may need- ·Friends. ·Avoidance of destructive personalities. ·Service opportunities. Spiritually, you may need- ·More time in· More time in prayer. ·A new understanding of how much God loves you. One of the most dramatic stories in the Old Testament was when the prophet Elijah became so distraught that he wanted to die
(1 Kings 19:4). He felt he was the only person left who served God. He had obeyed God, but his life was still in danger (1 Kings 19:10). Always be mindful that just as God supernaturally helped Elijah (1 Kings 19:5-8), He is ready to help you. And also be mindful that God uses others to help His children. Know that the day is coming when you can sing with David: “He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock and made my feet steady” (Psalm 40:2).
