Deliverance from Depression: 21 Day Prayer Devotional

By Christina Jones

Depression is debilitating; it's designed to rob you of the joyful life God created you to have. It's the perpetual state of feeling heavy and sorrowful. God walked me through the process of overcoming depression through prayer and changing my thinking. It is my prayer that God will use this book to deliver every reader struggling with this battle. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but, the Lord Jesus Christ came to give us life and life more abundantly! Receive your deliverance in the name of Jesus!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9780359494613

Book preview

Deliverance from Depression: 21 Day Prayer Devotional

DELIVERANCE FROM DEPRESSION

A 21 Day Prayer Devotional

By Christina Jones

Preface

Back when I had my first daughter, I remember going to her check-ups and filling out the mommy checkup questionnaires. There were mostly questions about how I was doing mentally. I could have checked the yes box on all the questions asking if I felt depressed or overwhelmed if I were honest with myself. However, due to thinking this was a temporary feeling, I never checked the yes boxes. I always say, When you are emotionally aware, you know when something is wrong with you mentally. You know when you feel happy and balanced, and you know when somethings wrong. I believe my depression started as a young child (at least that is what my mother just recently told me). She said Tina, as a little girl you would sit in your room and it would be a complete mess. You would read book after book and would only come out to eat or use the restroom. I remember those days. Maniac Magee. Addy books from the American Girl books series. I was continually reading to escape my reality. When I told my mother, I was writing a book about depression, it’s like a light bulb went off in her head and she mentioned that she thought I battled it as a child as well.

It’s so easy to push past what we are feeling and hope for a better tomorrow. The reality is, you have to acknowledge a problem in order to overcome it. My prayer is that someone will read one of my testimonies and relate, read a quote or poem and be inspired, or read the scriptures I’ve included and feel encouraged. Hopefully, you experience all three. God allows us to go through difficult situations to help other people when we finally make it through.

The steps in this book were truly instrumental in getting me out of some of the darkest days I have ever experienced. I felt heavy, lost, and my destiny felt so far away. I was constantly allowing my daily struggles overwhelm me and every issue in my life was magnified. It wasn’t until I began to change my thinking did my life begin to change.

Day 1: This is the day the Lord has made!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24 NKJV) I remember watching one of the late Derek Prince's sermons, and he said: The garden of praise drives depression away. That statement made a huge impression on me. The Lord inhabits the praises of his people and when the Lord comes over to visit, depression cannot stay. Today focus on the half of your cup that is full. Give praise to God for what he’s doing and what he is going to do. Change your atmosphere just by adjusting your attitude; "Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5)

Negativity is too expensive. It will cost you too much and it robs you of your opportunity to be present and engaged with your loved ones. I used to be so busy thinking on my hurt and those who wronged me, that it was hard to interact with my family until I was over the dark thoughts consuming me and affecting my mood. I had to let go and be intentional about my thinking. You do not have to accept every thought that enters your mind. There are demonic forces around us that whisper lies in our ears. God has given us weapons to fight and protect our minds from these entities.

Praise is a weapon of spiritual warfare. You drive the enemy and his army back by declaring your victory. In 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat’s army defeated their enemies by following God’s instruction and through praise. 2 Chronicles 20:14-30 says

14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.

15 He said: Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’

18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in