Today's Scripture - "And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:23-24 AMP
Thoughts for Today - Some estimate that in the United States alone as many as 15 million adults are affected by major depression in any given year.
People experiencing severe depression may find it hard to believe, deep down, that there are good things about themselves. They are trapped between a rock and a hard place, between a deep desire to be affirmed as "good" and a deep feeling of not being very good at all.
The Apostle Paul declared that "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV But depression causes many of us to reject the free gift of God: a new identity as a good and righteous person.
Consider this… Astronomers tell us there are swirling whirlpools in the universe with a powerful magnetic pull that does not allow light to escape from within them. Black holes, therefore, cannot be seen, but their existence can be identified by the debris that revolves around them. In the same way, we cannot see into the heart of another person, but we can tell the condition of the heart by observing the things that revolve around that person's life. If we are suffering from depression, those revolving things might include feeling angry, helpless, hopeless, isolated and even suicidal. All of these revolve around a black hole, a self-identity of being worthless.
The "trap" occurs when we allow our attention to be distracted primarily by the things revolving around our heart rather than focusing on the condition of the heart itself. The path out of this trap is a process of learning a new identity, one based on the truth of God's Word rather than on a lie. A process of putting "on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness."
Prayer - Father, I see myself as worthless, but your Word tells me that as your child, I am clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Help me to accept my new identity as a good and righteous person … to see myself as you see me. In Jesus' name …
4 comments:
Just thought it was a good reminder that we are able to renew ourselves constantly.
cas
Thanks for the post today. It was something that I needed to hear. We needn't worry about the extraneous stuff in our lives for all of that is a result of our core being, our new identity given to us by Jesus.
The "trap" occurs when we allow our attention to be distracted primarily by the things revolving around our heart rather than focusing on the condition of the heart itself.
A much needed reminder.
- LT
Depression runs in my family...I do tend to get down on myself and some of it is I'm sure chemically related and some of it is not.
This daily devotional is a reminder to me of who I am in Christ and that nothing else either Positive or Negative should interfere with that. Satan tricks those who tend to be high on themselves and also low on themselves to disable us from God's work in our lives.
Peace out!
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