It is a difficulty when our mind gains a negative bent and we start thinking about things negatively. It happens to everyone and we all need skills to divert our attention from this attack of the depressive mindset. Sometimes a cup of lovely coffee will fix it or a trip to the shops to buy something you have needed for some time and have put off buying.

We are not supposed to live in penury but God gives us all things to enjoy. We must look after ourselves and not be cruel to ourselves. Sometimes the preacher steps out of line and suggests we give all our resources to church, but this is simply a grasping technique for getting money that is not earned. There are too many who put terrible guilt burdens on believers in Jesus and guilt trip them into not doing things for ourselves. Many of these so-called churches are just selfish cults set up around one person to facility the growth of their own empire. They say that they are building the church of Christ, but are really just taking hard-earned funds of selfless Christians. We need to be very careful who we give our money to.

Do not allow yourself to be taken in and ending up with dog-ends and ragged resources for yourself. In Ireland we say to each other “look after yourself.” We must do so, for we become low in mood and useless to others so easily. We can see everything as chastisement from the Lord when really it is the oppression of the mind brought on by blaming preaching.

If we feel ourselves getting sad we must look into ourselves and ascertain why. Maybe you are not meeting your own needs sufficiently. Maybe someone is oppressing your spirit and causing you to be downcast about yourself. Let us throw off every hindrance and be glad in the Lord. We work for our resources which the Lord permits, that our needs are met. We give to others out of the promptings of the Holy Spirit and not out of guilt trips and pressure. We give liberally to the Lord’s work and to those around us in need. Do not be taken in by those who blame and lead us to oppression.

Don’t allow yourself to get so sad that you go down the slippery slope into Depression. Let us be glad in the Lord and in all that He allows us to have. Let us take up our responsibility to be happy and joyful saints of God, looking and feeling God for His eternal glory and our good.