I have suffered from depression most of my life. When I was 12 I contracted spinal meningitis from a kid at school. It damaged my endocrine system and it took doctors 30 years to diagnosis the problem. All of us suffer from one thing or another. We all have some obstacle to overcome. Maybe you struggle with something now, or will latter in life. However, not one of us will go through life untouched by mental or physical distress. Famous and wealthy people are no different. Maybe because of their fame and wealth they are more susceptible to distress. I personally call fame, wealth and beauty a disability because these things have a tendency to separate us from God. We must understand that Satan is putting roadblocks in front of us constantly. All material and physical stress is born of Satan.
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19 NKJV As a believer we posses this assurance that we will be with Jesus, we will have the mind of Jesus, we will be like Jesus, we will reign with Jesus, and we will share with Him as joint heirs of all creation. We have this hope now. We are eternally anchored in Christ. It is sure and steadfast. It is unmovable and unchangeable because His sacrificial death gave us the, …boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 NKJV
We are more than conquerors through Him because of the promise that if we confess Him 
before men He will confess us before the heavenly father. He will be our advocate and stand in our place before the Father. Faith in Christ’s sacrificial death guarantees us a place in heaven and a reward for our service to Him. When we depart this world we will go before God with this glorious promise that Christ will be with us always. When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. Colossians 3:4-7 NIV Let us thank our heavenly Father for this tremendous hope we have in Jesus Christ.
Depression was a way of life for me until I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Prior to my new birth I believed in Christ, but I did not give over my life to Him so that He can purify my heart and remove this terrible depression I had suffered from for so long. It is an amazing thing, we have to surrender to become free, we have to give ourselves away to gain control through Jesus Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV With this marvelous grace that God has bestowed on us we have this glorious hope in Christ who sits at the right hand of God to make intersession for us so that one day we will be resurrected from the dead. He lives, so we live because He is a living hope inside of our heart. A hope that in the end He will make all things right. We know that we were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
The greatest struggle we have with God is our contentment to remain ignorant of the promises He has given to us. We settle for spiritual immaturity and are satisfied with our own salvation while the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. Our churches are self absorbed tending only to the needs of those who show up at their door step. This is contrary to our commission. 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. Matthew 28:19 NKJV I preach only one thing to you, Daily Bible study and prayer. This is the only way we will grow into mature servants of Jesus Christ. The expressions on the people’s faces as they enter the church leads many outsiders to think that God is dead. The sermons are boring because the pastor didn’t spend enough time with God during the week. The prayers are read instead of coming from the heart, and the service includes the same rituals performed at the same time every year. Boring, boring, boring. It truly looks like we are all depressed. How can we neglect such a glorious hope. Our places of worship should be the happiest, liveliest places in town. We should be rejoicing, full of the hope and glory of God. We should show confidence in our faith. “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV We are eternal living beings now and we should walk this earth spreading the Good News to whomever our paths cross, because we are all, “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 NKJV
As I look back over the last twenty years of my life I see this tremendous change I have made through Jesus. I look at my old life prior to gaining control through Christ and wonder how I ever survived. By the grace of God He kept me even when my back was turned to Him. He watched over me even as I neglected Him just as many of you neglect the wonderful relationship that can be had with Him through Bible study and prayer. I pray you will consider these words and reflect on your own life, and realize how much more to life there is with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through daily Bible study and prayer. (DBS&P) 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. Romans 15:13 NKJV
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