 OVERCOMING DEPRESSION AND BURNOUT (27 views)
From:  Minister Falcon (OSMFalcon)     10/29/2002 2:56 pm  
To:  ALL    
 
  464.1  
 
OVERCOMING DEPRESSION AND BURNOUT

Depression and burnout are to the mind what sickness and disease are to the body.  This emotional malady is a growing problem in the wake of modern society's relentless pursuit for success and achievement. We are not all able to keep up with high priorities placed on performances and success as dictated by society for symbols of worthiness.  Often we experience and increase gap between expectations and accomplishments.  This causes us disillusionment.  Equally important is the increase abuse and misuse of the body.  Stress is the key word explaining this abuse. The more complex a culture is the greater the experience of stress.  the consequent physiological distress plays havoc with the biochemical processes of the body, and depression is a symptom and natural outcome of this distress.

Causes of depression:

Imbalance in the body's chemistry. 
Side effects of medication 
Insufficient nutrition
Combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual factors come into play.  Sinful attitudes and actions and subsequent feelings of guilt may be at the root of a Christian's depression.  Through godly counsel you can ascertain the root cause, apply the necessary changes in your live to move toward recovery.

Satan uses doubt, discouragement, and depression as his primary weapons to battle us in our minds.  he maligns God's character and faithfulness, redirects our focus on our problem  instead of God's promise and stimulates myopic spiritual vision in our hearts.  Exercising our spiritual muscles is crucial in overcoming depression.

VICTORY IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM

Resist the devil  James 4:7 says.  The cloud of depression is dispersed.  The Lord Himself resisted the devil vocally:  'Get thee behind me, Satan!'  Use the promises of scripture as weapons.  They work right away!  The Holy Spirit can help us recognize the source of the attack and use the weapon of God's Word to overcome the enemy.  The Word not only puts Satan to flight but also brings healing to our troubled souls.

SCRIPTURES

Psalms 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. 

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

2 Chronicles 32:8
..with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 

Lamentations 3:21-26
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.  "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"  The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 

Psalms 16:11
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 

Psalms 23:3
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

Psalms 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, 

Psalms 34:17-19
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.  

Psalms 37:23-24
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. 

Psalms 42:5-6
Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him  for the help of His countenance.  O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar. 

Psalms 42:8
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me--a prayer to the God of my life. 

Psalms 51:12
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 

Psalms 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 

Psalms 61:1-4
Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer.   From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalms 63:6-8
When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. 

Psalms 95:1
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 

Psalms 103:1-5
Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,  Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

Psalms 116:7-9
Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.  I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalms 118:15
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 

Psalms 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalms 130:5-7
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning--yes, more than those who watch for the morning.  O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. 

Isaiah 12:3
Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 

Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." 

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 15:10-12
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 4:17b-18a
God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;  who, contrary to hope, in hope believed,

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Romans 8:31 
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Romans 14:17-18
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Philippians 4:6-9
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 

Colossians 3:1-2
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

1 Peter 1:13-15
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 

1 Peter 5:6-7
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 


PRAYER

Lord, thank you that I don't have to live under a cloud of depression.  I praise you that you are at work even now, restoring the joy of my salvation, and restoring my soul in every area.  Father, help me to put on a garmet of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness.  help me to fix my eyes upon Jesus and not upon my prolbmes.  May I find my comfort in you.  In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
 
