By Dudley Anderson

"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall".~Malachi 4:2

Jenni fell back against the wall of the balcony of her holiday apartment and slumped to her haunches, petrified and ashamed. It was early hours of the morning and while her husband, Dave was asleep she'd stepped out on the balcony to get some air. She and her husband had taken a few days off to try and recoup their marriage. Jenni held a high powered job but her career was collapsing. She and Dave were in deep debt and their marriage was crumbling. Jenni had nowhere to turn. She'd been keeping it all in: all those feelings of neglect, lack of self-worth and anxiety. She gazed back at the railing of their 11th floor apartment's balcony. She'd come so close to ending it all.

Depression! It's safe to say that depression is becoming as common as the common cold, these days. We're told that 10 times more people suffer from the disease today than 70 years ago. There are three primary levels of depression: mild, moderate and severe. Often a doctor will prescribe drugs to deal with the symptoms of depression but most doctors are also now suggesting talking therapy. Talking out your problems is a very powerful treatment. The Bible makes it clear that everyone has a spirit, a soul and a body. The soul is the middle part of who are and, for the most part, comprises your thoughts and emotions. Let's call it the heart. Listen to what Jesus said about the heart, "For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." If you're suffering with anxious and depressed emotions today then be encouraged to frequently pour out your heart to a faithful and compassionate friend. But prayer is talking, too. So pray. Talk to Jesus about your problems.

Depression often develops out of anxiety, sadness or low esteem. Everyone experiences emotions like these from time to time but it's when these types of emotions become malignant that depression sets in. Depression is cancer of the soul. But cancer can be healed and Jesus is the healer! It's by his word that Jesus healed. The Bible says that the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. Talking out your problems to God and a friend will begin the healing process but the word of God will complete it.

If you're like Jenni and you feel as though you're higher up and closer to the edge of your problems in life then let me encourage you to read the word, study the word, confess the word and live the word. And here's an example of what God's word is saying to you today (from Psalm 139):

PRAY:

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Dear Lord,  I make this my confession here today! I admit that I have suffered depression. Help me to find its root cause and help me to root its lies out of my life. I am a child of God and not a child of the father of lies, Satan. I confess Jesus as my Lord and master. I confess that he made a spectacle of depression when he triumphed over it at the cross. I confess that I need no longer be under the grips of the disease of depression. I confess that I seek to daily renew my mind by your word you are familiar with all my ways; you hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me; your hand will guide me; you hold me fast; you knit me together in my mother's womb; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be; test me and know my anxious thoughts. In the name of my Lord Jesus I make this my confession here today! Amen!"

Overcome the cancer of depression by the healing of God's word and prayer. Don't Give Up. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

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"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and have patience for the small ones...Go to sleep in peace. God is awake" --- Victor Hugo

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Dudley began writing for radio. He currently presents for UCB UK and writes a weekly devotional called, trACker. trACker reaches hundreds of people and is published online. Dudley also pastors a church in the UK. More at: www.godtracker.co.uk
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS