Well, I am back! Although, I never actually went anywhere! It was never my intention to make my first post a quote from someone else’s blog. Not to mention the fact that this is an excerpt from a book I never read, but here it is…
I read this little piece this morning and have been thinking about it all day. I believe that most, if not all children of God, know what it is to be spiritually depressed. Yet, there is nothing greater than the fact that Jesus, the Son of Man, is sitting on a glorious throne next to the Father, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:21). Allelujia!
My prayer for us today, and everyday, is that we keep our eyes fixed on this everlasting truth: He reigns!
“Do you want to know supreme joy, do you want to experience a happiness that eludes description? There is only one thing to do, really seek Him, seek Him Himself, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
If you find that your feelings are depressed do not sit down and commiserate with yourself, do not try to work something up but go directly to Him and seek His face, as the little child who is miserable and unhappy because somebody else has taken or broken his toy, runs to its father or its mother. So if you and I find ourselves afflicted by this condition, there is only one thing to do, it is to go to Him.
If you seek the Lord Jesus Christ and find him there is no need to worry about your happiness and your joy. He is our joy and our happiness, even as He is our peace. He is life, He is everything. So avoid the incitements and the temptations of Satan to give feelings this great prominence at the centre. Put at the centre the only One who has a right to be there, the Lord of Glory, Who so loved you that He went to the Cross and bore the punishment and the shame of your sins and died for you.”
– Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression, 117-118
Christina, I’m so glad you’re back! I know quite a few people who would benefit from running to Christ instead of friends, spouses, pastors and counselors. While they can certainly help, they should not be first or foremost! I learned to run to Christ. It was not easy. It is not easy even now, but the rewards are endlessly sweet! Love and blessings!
Hello my dear sister! And, you always make my day! He is sweet for sure yet the temptation to give something else a prominent place can be great. But I love the last part — let us put at the centre the ONLY ONE who has a right to be there! Take THAT “incitement” and “temptation”!!! LOL!
Love and hugs to you! xoxoxoxo
Welcome “back”, Christina!
Spiritual Depression by Lloyd-Jones is such a good book. It’s about preaching the gospel to ourselves and believing the truth of who Christ is and what He has done. We can never get too much of that!
Hi Persis!
Thank you! I am happy to be back!
You know, I saw this book on your “Completed Reading List for 2010” and made a mental note of it. This was a while ago. And now, in light of this little excerpt and your comments, I might just have to put it on the radar before the year end! Bless you my dear sister!
Have a beautiful weekend!
Christina! I’m so glad you’re back with us! Placing our focus back on Christ instead of self is always good medicine for the mind.
Even when we have a legitimate reason to be downcast due to circumstances, reminding ourselves of Ephesians 1:21 that He is ruler above all things, including the very steps that we take, brings so much comfort!
Hope you and your doggies have a blessed weekend dear sister 😉
Thank you Diane! I am glad to be back in “blogging” land! I’ve missed it!
I haven’t read this book but I think I need to get it on the radar — especially in light of what Persis said…it’s about preaching the Gospel to ourselves. The Gospel, is and always will be, the ONLY thing with the power to set us free! And, what believer doesn’t know what depression is? In fact, I think believers are subject to the worst of it.
And yes, I am having a lovely weekend with the “dawgies”. I just came back from a lovely neighborhood walk. ; )
I loved this. It reminds me of “Mathew” 11;28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
A person may be carrying heavy burdens of (1) sin, (2) excessive demands of religious leaders, (3) oppression and persecurion or (4) weariness in search of God. But Jesus frees people from all these burdens. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God.
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing that Victoria. He truly is our rest. I pray you have a beautiful week in the Lord! Much love to you!
Hi Christina! Welcome back, I love your new pic 🙂
I have been reading this book for the past month and it has been such an inspiration for me. He has a wonderful chapter called “That One Sin” which ties in with your most recent post. Anyway, this chapter really encompassed the way that Satan has most vehemently stolen my joy at times. Dr. Jones said that more often than he could count he found Christians in a state of spiritual depression because Satan had convinced them that before they were saved, they had committed a sin worse than anyone else’s, so grave, it put them outside of Christ’s salvation. Boy, this is so true and is just satan’s way of dimenishing the power of Christ’s saving Grace, which encompasses all.
Christianbooks.com has this particular book at a very low price, $9 I think, to make room for all of their crazy apostate authors. I got two large volumes of hardback Tozer’s works for $19 and Spurgeon’s All of Grace for $.99!
Bless you Sister and welcome back!
Hi Kari!
Your visit made my night! And you have sealed it for me. I am going to purchase the book tomorrow. Thank you so much for revealing a little of what is discussed in the chapter “That One Sin”. It certainly is the enemies way of diminishing the power of God in our lives.
I also read your blog post today at work. I thought it was wonderful. I couldn’t comment due to a firewall that sometimes prevents me from commenting and others times lets me right in. Go figure?!
Oh, and thank you for the heads up on Christianbooks.com. I usually steer clear but I suppose they can be beneficial if you know your way around the apostates!!! : )
Lord bless you my sister! I’ll be seeing you online this weekend! : )