The Cure for the Blues

I have the cure for the blues today! Scripture tells us to rejoice in the Lord:

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. (NKJV)

and

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (NKJV)

Follow me through to the end of this message and meditate on the verses here, I GUARANTEE that you will be rejoicing and praising the Lord by then.

Strengthen and Encourage Yourself Today

Let’s look at the example of David. This was after he and his men lost all their families and possessions to the Amalekites and his men were so upset that they were ready to stone him.

1 Samuel 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (NKJV)

David was GREATLY DISTRESSED, the passage says, but he STRENGTHENED HIMSELF IN THE LORD. The KJV says he ENCOURAGED himself. I suspect he went back to spending time remembering God’s goodness to him, spending time in God’s Word as was told to Joshua

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (NKJV)

Mind you, David only had the first 5 books of the Bible to encourage himself with. Today, we have the full benefit of the Word, telling us of a Better Covenant purchased by the Blood of Jesus! How much more should we be able to encourage ourselves in the Lord?

God IS With Us!

Just take a look at a few of the promises He has given us. For starters, when we realise that God is with us, in us, for us and will never leave us…

Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. (NKJV)

The one who has been given ALL AUTHORITY in Heaven and on Earth is with me forever!

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— (NKJV)

The Creator of the Universe and everything that exists has chosen to make you His dwelling place for all of eternity. Just stop and meditate on that for a few seconds.

John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (NKJV)

And God the Father loves me as He loves Jesus!

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (NKJV)

Christ IS in me, my hope of glory!

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. (NKJV)

We are not destined for wrath, but we will always be with Him.

God IS For Us

Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV)

NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING can separate us from the Love of God.

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (NKJV)

God ALWAYS leads us in triumph in Christ!

Philippians 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

In all situations, we can do ALL THINGS, live through and thrive amidst any outside circumstance through Christ.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (NKJV)

We have overcome the world – Christ in us is greater than the world, like our Lord Himself said:

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

In Him we have peace – He HAS OVERCOME the world!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)

We have no need to fear – we have power, love and sound minds.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (NKJV)

He is able to do EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY above all we ask or think. You ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!

So what’s stopping us?

David’s key – MEDITATE, MEDITATE, MEDITATE on God’s Word.

Get into the Word until the Word gets into us!

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (NKJV)

This is what I call REPLACEMENT THERAPY. David's intent is not in avoiding sin, but replacing it with God's Word. He meditates DAY AND NIGHT.

What is the pervasive/dominant thought that is in the front of your mind at any time? That’s what you are meditating on.

2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (NKJV)

For the Word to benefit, they must be mixed with FAITH. We must believe what the Word says to us.

Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (NKJV)

and Faith comes by hearing and hearing and hearing the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (NKJV)

It was hearing then because many couldn't read. Today, we can read it, hear it, watch it – so many ways that we have no excuse. Talk to yourself about God’s Word. Toss it about in your mind aloud. Like God told Joshua, it should not depart FROM YOUR MOUTH. It will build the very faith you need to mix the Word with. Hearing once, reading once won't likely change us.

Meditate DAY and NIGHT and you will be unshakeable and whatever you do WILL prosper.

Our Lord Jesus said:

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)

When the truth of God’s goodness sinks into your heart, it will SET YOU FREE. When you know and you know and you know that you have a God who will never let you down, you cannot but rejoice. Depression will only have to flee.

HALLELUJAH!

When that happens, we can say and believe

Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (NKJV)

Romans 8: 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (NKJV)

Who can be against us? He gave His Son for us. What then would He withhold?

REJOICE!

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (NKJV)

This is when you find strength in the Joy of the Lord!

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

My desire is that you would keep this email handy and use it again and again to encourage yourself.

I pray this sharing of the Word blesses you!