So, the last several days have been a horrible struggle for me. I feel like I want to cry all the time, feel angry and wanting to be alone. There so many emotions and things that go along with depression. For me, I want to sleep, and sleep, and sleep. Today I fought that though. With help from my husband, I got up at 5am and exercised. Yes, exercise is a way of helping eliminate symptoms of depression. So, I did it reluctantly. We did the cardio P90X today. It was a good workout, but didn't boost my emotional state one bit.
So, today I was given the following scriptures to look at:
Isaiah 61:10 (The Message)
10-11I will sing for joy in God,
explode in praise from deep in my soul!
He dressed me up in a suit of salvation,
he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo
and a bride a jeweled tiara.
For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers,
and as a garden cascades with blossoms,
So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom
and puts praise on display before the nations.
So, I need to make sure I'm giving God the praise He so deserves. Being as beautiful as He sees me. Allow myself to sing with praise all day long...
Psalm 34 (The Message)
Psalm 34
1 I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. God gave be breath!2 I live and breathe God;
if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: Yes as they do in life... that's why it's called life.
3 Join me in spreading the news;
together let's get the word out. Come see His glory everyone!
4 God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears. My favorite part as I know I can not always make it half way. He will remove my stress and anxieties. He will give me relief.
5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him. How can I not even think of Him without smiling at Him? He loves me just the way I am. He created me, even with my depression, with my faults, with my strengths, with my failures. He has given me times to excel and times to grow. He has given me everything.
6 When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot. Oh, how I call out to Him in desperation. Praying for Him to help me get through one day, then the next. To see the beauty in each day He's given me. He's helped me more than all the friends I have, put together. He will always be there for me.
7 God's angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray. Wow.... God sends His angels to be with me! I can feel their embrace and warmth of their love.
8 Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him. Open your eyes and see! God is good! God is wonderful! God is amazing!
9 Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness. There is absolutely no reason not to worship Him.
10 Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God. I want to be full of God and His glory!
11 Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship. Close your mouth and listen to God's word!
12 Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?
13 Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth. This is so easy these days. Swearing and lying are so commonplace that the majority of people do not see anything wrong with it. Well... there is ... God doesn't want us to do either, both are sinful!
14 Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don't let it get away! Another favorite of mine here. Sin can be made of so many different things. I know it's easy for me to be jealous of others, feel bad about myself, and several other things, but these are sinful behaviors that I must turn my back on. God wants me to be with Him, not in sin. Peace... I need to learn how to embrace it!
15 God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan. He's watching us all the time and hears our pleas.
16 God won't put up with rebels;
he'll cull them from the pack. Follow HIM!
17 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you. Oh my gosh, who isn't crying for help from God at some point in their life? I know that I do it often. God listens to me... and to you.
18 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. My heart may not be broken in ways others may understand, however, it has cracks in it that need some mending. God is the caulk that will fill those cracks and glue my heart back together.
19 Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time. We all sin, even Christians. God is still there for us.
20 He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken. Can you imagine Him as your bodyguard? Think of Him that way. He will protect you no matter what. He is always there for you.
21 The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good. Do you hate what is good?
22 God pays for each slave's freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out. Take a deep breath and RUN to Him...
One favorite phrase I've heard:
When you can no longer run - walk, when you can not walk - crawl, when you cannot crawl - HE WILL CARRY YOU!
I need to allow Him to carry me further than ever before. Great things are happening in my life and I know Satan is trying to pull me down. Make me weak, before God can be truly glorious in my household. However, I have God as my rock and foundation... He will keep me strong and feeling hopeful. He will lead me to where I need to be for all this to work the way He wants it to be.
God will be glorious in the end!
