As someone who suffered with clinical depression for many decades, I know what I will share WORKS.

First, I advocate the use of medicine, doctors, and any type of treatment that will assist a depressed person function and be healthy.  This is especially true if one has a chemical imbalance or is bipolar or any other type of medical condition.

The trap occurs when one uses their treatment more like a band-aid instead of letting God get to the root of their depression – the healing of the broken heart.

This is why I now share the specific reason why there is Victory Over Depression.

I was severely depressed for decades, since childhood.  17 of those years were even as a born again Christian.  For the last 16 years, I have been walking in the Victory Over Depression simply by letting the Holy Spirit renew my mind (Romans 12:1-2) to see myself the way God sees me.

Think about it.  Jesus crucified depression and all its consequences on the cross.  He buried it in His tomb and left it there when He rose from the dead.

Therefore, GOD SEES YOUR DEPRESSION AS DEAD. 

It does not get much simpler than that.  When God the Father sees you, He does not see depression or a loser.  HE SEES JESUS IN YOU.  HE SEES HIS CHILD. 

So stop seeing yourself the way God does not see you. 

God heals the broken heart by giving you a new heart – HIS VERY OWN – CHRIST IN YOU.

God cannot help one who keeps looking at dead things.  Since He sees JESUS IN YOU, what is keeping you from consistently seeing JESUS IN YOU.

The victory of CHRIST IN YOU gets applied daily by faith.  I cannot make or say it any simpler.  DAILY, keep exposing yourselves and say (by faith) that CHRIST LIVES IN ME.   Do it in prayer.  Do it in reading His Word.  This is how my victory came.  Even though it took time,  I ASSURE YOU WILL HAVE THE VICTORY.  You mind will continuously be fixated on CHRIST IN YOU as your new life.

Continue to look at my blogs, youtube videos, internet radio show, website, FB & Twitter posts, for consistent reinforcement to this information. The links are listed below.

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST IN YOU. 

Bob Bennett links:

• Blog:   VictoryOverDepression.WordPress.com
• Youtube:   www.youtube.com/victoryovrdepression
• Internet Radio Show:   www.blogtalkradio.com/victoryovrdepression
• Website:   www.LifeUnderGrace.com
• Facebook:   www.facebook.com/VictoryOverDepression
• Twitter:   www.twitter.com/VicOvDepression

Can you imagine living under that type of bondage for decades?  Often this abuse occurred from parents while they were growing up.  Imagine living in this environment as a child?

That’s why the sensitivity in dealing with depressed Christians must be adhered to.  Ministering to depressed Christians must make one aware how fragile they are.

That’s why simple one word answers or phrases DO NOT WORK.

Years of mental abuse will not change overnight.  Years of negative thoughts must be replaced with constant positive thoughts – especially WHO GOD SAYS THEY ARE.  The Bible calls it the “renewing of the mind” and ONLY the Holy Spirit can renew one’s mind so they can see life through God’s eyes.

That’s why it takes time.  Their recovery & healing cannot be rushed.

Depressed Christians need to be their worth through the eyes of Jesus Christ.  That’s the only way it will work.  JESUS IN THEM will do it.  Jesus will show them they are worth it, special, and never a mistake.

CHRIST IN YOU is what eventually freed me from many years of depression.  Jesus wants to root His love deeper into each person.  First though, the pain, scars, thorns, dirt, etc. must first be removed.  Then the love of Christ will flow out more naturally.

The Holy Spirit will mostly renew the mind of a depressed Christian through the Word of God.  That is a must for every depressed Christian to be reading and meditating every day – specifically the New Testament and the Gospels that show the personal, intimate love God has for them.

And to specifically see that JESUS LIVES IN YOU 24/7 & WILL NEVER LEAVE.

It takes time since it is a growth process.  Don’t rush your healing.  Be patient with yourself.  I am glad I can help in anyway possible.

CHRIST IN YOU is your solution & victory.

For those ministering and encouraging depressed Christians, just be there for them.  Pray for them.  Encourage them.  Don’t force immediate faith solutions on them.  Their deep pain cannot come out all at once.  Be a great friend to them to always be by their side.

At the same time, use wisdom.  Don’t enable depressed Christians.  Don’t let them take advantage of your goodness and help.  Instead, point them directly to Jesus and for them to be alone with Him in His Word.  The Holy Spirit must do the work in them.

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If you have been blessed with this blog, please post it on your wall and other places.  There is so much freedom in Christ that people need to know.  The truths of CHRIST IN YOU in my blog are liberating to the core of the heart.  Thanks.

CHRIST IN YOU gives DAILY Victory Over Depression, Over EVERYTHING.

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PS: Even though I wrote this blog about “depressed Christians,” the sensitivity must be understood for all depressed people.

I’ve come to realize that many Christians today continue to let their self-worth be determined by the negative opinions of other people (including Christians.)

When one is severely depressed, he/she has not responded properly to many years of adverse circumstances and trials. (This adversity can also include normal, daily chores.)  He begins to accept the negativity and condemnation as normal.  So it’s not surprising that it can take a lengthy period of time to overcome the negative, depressing thoughts & self-image man have put themselves under.

That was my situation for over 30 years, including 17 years as a born again Christian.  There are still times that the old negative thoughts try to come back to haunt me, but I have a choice to reject them.

The key to my victory was understanding JESUS LIVING IN ME.  With Jesus living in, I have a new life, a new heart, a new identity as a child of God, and NEW, CONSISTENT VICTORY.

You have a choice with depression.  When you let someone else opinion affect you (whether positive or negative). you give them control over your life.

We all have authority to control our own destiny.  Sure it takes time, but like a baby learning to walk – one step at a time is how we go.  When the baby falls, he doesn’t sit there wallowing in depression.  He gets up and walks again.  He repeats this every time he falls.

Be encouraged.  You have a choice.  Do it one day at a time, one step at a time, one minute at a time.  Remember to keep cutting off the negativity as much as possible everyday.

YOU ARE WORTH IT.

The freedom and healing does not occur overnight.
It is a growth process that only the Holy Spirit can do.
There is so much garbage of pain, rejection, hurt, depression, no self-worth, etc. within us that Jesus can only deal gently and tenderly with us.
The Holy Spirit must remove those thorns of garbage gently.
Otherwise the thorns may open up the wound worse or open up more wounds.

I am delighted to share the truths of CHRIST IN YOU.
The Holy Spirit taught me this Himself, with no Christian friends that understood the depths of this victory.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of information available that brings one focused on CHRIST IN YOU.
To look up some, google Major Ian Thomas.

So be encouraged.  Don’t rush to be healed.  God knows how to grow you through it.
Keep though that focus on CHRIST IN YOU.
It WILL occur.

Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials” (Jn 16:33 NLT).

You solve one problem, and another one comes along to take its place.

They’re not all big, but they’re all necessary to your spiritual growth.

How do you assess the strength of something? By testing it!

The Bible says: “Don’t be…shocked that you are going through testing…It will prepare you” (1Pe 4:12-13 CEV).

Some of your most life-enriching experiences will come during your worst moments

• when your heart is broken,
• when you feel abandoned,
• when you’re out of options,
• when your pain levels go through the roof & you turn to God.

That’s when you learn to pray heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers.

When you’re in pain you don’t have the energy for superficial ones. And that’s when you discover, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Ps 34:18 NLT).

God could have kept Joseph out of prison, Daniel out of the lions’ den, Jeremiah out of the slimy pit, and Paul from being shipwrecked, but He didn’t. As a result, each one of them was drawn closer to God and impacted the world around them.

Your problems force you to look to God and depend on Him instead of yourself. This is especially hard on superachievers like Paul. “We…saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us” (2Co 1:9 TLB).

You’ll never know what God can do until God is all you’ve got.

So place your needs into His capable, loving hands, and watch what happens.

- from a daily devotional

The moment somebody begins to gossip stop them and ask, “Why do I need to know this?  Have you talked to the person you’re talking about?“

Wise up; people who gossip can’t be trusted!

The Bible says that when you listen to gossip you are a troublemaker: “Troublemakers listen to troublemakers.”  Jude adds: “These are the people who divide you, people whose thoughts are only of this world” (Jude v.19 NCV).

Those are serious charges.  The Internet has only made the problem worse because now you can spread gossip faster and wider, and remain anonymous while you are doing it.

Paul speaks about those who “devour one another…[and your whole fellowship]” (Gal 5:15 AMP).  He says they should be avoided and disciplined.

When was the last time you saw that happen in church?

Solomon said, “A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler” (Pr 20:19 NRS).  In other words, “keep clear of them.”

The quickest way to end gossip is to confront those who are spreading it.  The church is not a “tell all” television show where we expose people and hang out their dirty linen for all the world to see.

Quite the opposite: “Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and tensions disappear when gossip stops” (Pr 26:20 TLB).

Jesus taught us how to deal with personal difficulties when they arise:

1. “Work it out between the two of you.”
2. “If he (she) won’t listen, take one or two others along.”
3. “If he (she) still won’t listen, tell the church [leadership]” (Mt 18:15-17 TM).

That’s Christ’s way, and it must be our way too.

- from a daily devotional

“If you’re content to…be yourself, your life will count.” Mt 23:12 TM

Do you remember Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to surrender her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus?  There was more at stake that day than just a ride home from work.

By simply being herself, Rosa suddenly moved to center stage.  She wasn’t playing games.  She was the real thing, and God shone a light on her soul that day that changed history.

That’s how it works: when God’s light shines on your efforts, little becomes much.

Jesus said, “If you’re content to…be yourself, your life will count.”

Now, since God is the only One who knows when your time will come, you must be prepared. “How do I do that?” you ask. The Bible answers: “Be content with who you are…don’t put on airs. God’s…hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time” (1Pe 5:6-7 TM).

Allow the Holy Spirit to be your agent and advance man.  Don’t get ahead of Him.  Just be faithful; when the time is right God will shine His spotlight on the next stage and assign you an even bigger role.

And when the moment comes for you to stride confidently into the spotlight and fulfill your God-given role, try to remember that there’s no room for self-importance and pretence.

This moment calls for:

1. Stripping away all lesser roles you’ve acted out and settled for;
2. discovering who you are and what your life is really about;
3. depending totally on God to help you give the most authentic performance of your career.

- from a daily devotional

Someone has said that mediocrity is just the best of the worst and the worst of the best.  Is that what you want this year?

If not, you must be willing to leave the safety of where you are, and go where God wants to take you.

After fishing all night and catching nothing Jesus told His disciples, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

In other words, leave the safety of the shoreline and be willing to face the fury of the storm, knowing that God is with you.

Helen Keller, who overcame incredible challenges, said, “Security is a myth. The reason we don’t experience it is because it doesn’t exist. Avoiding danger or failure is no safer in the long run than outright risk. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Launching out means setting goals, establishing a plan to reach them, and becoming accountable.

Launching requires staying in sync with God’s will, confronting your fears and discovering the rewards that lie on the other side of them.

Launching demands looking in the mirror, and either respecting or correcting what you’re becoming. 

Launching calls for devoting your life to something greater than yourself, even when others don’t understand.

Launching is having an “I will fear no evil for Thou art with me” (Ps 23:4) attitude, and attempting great things for God.

As you enter this New Year, stop and recall God’s goodness.  Check the price tag on His will for your life against what you’re already paying, and compare the rewards of both. Then, “launch out” and don’t look back!

- from a Jan 1, 2012 daily devotional

Teach your children to handle money.

Your home is a classroom for teaching money-management skills.

(1) Teach them that if they honor God financially, He will honor them. “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all…then your barns [bank accounts] will be filled” (Pr 3:9-10 NIV).

Before you give your son or daughter money, teach them how to handle it responsibly so that they can avoid the “prodigal syndrome” (See Lk 15:11-32). The Prodigal Son’s attitude towards money and his misuse of it cost him dearly.

Give your child biblical wisdom in four areas-earning, giving, spending and saving-and you’ll position them for God’s blessing.

(2) Teach them God’s Word regarding borrowing, lending, and credit.

In a culture driven by slick advertising and easily obtained, high-interest credit cards, kids need to understand the consequences of their financial decisions.

The verse, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Pr 22:6 NAS) is not an isolated statement.  Read the next verse.  “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave” (v. 7 NAS).

Teach them that what looks like the fast lane to plenty, can become the sure road to poverty.

Train them to delay gratification until they can afford what they want.

Don’t guarantee loans for them. The Bible says: “Do not be a man who…puts up security for debts…your very bed will be snatched from under you” (vv. 26-27 NIV).

- from a daily devotional

Teach your children to handle temptation.

Tell them to expect it and not be overwhelmed by how often they face it.

“Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (Jas 1:14).

Your children need to know how to handle two powerful sources of temptation:

(1) Temptation in the area of sexual sin.  Television and the internet make everything from normal to perverse as available as oxygen, enticing them to experiment with behaviors that destroy health, relationships and life.

They need more than a brief, embarrassed “birds and bees” talk.  Instruct them early, regularly and clearly.  “My son…the lips of an adulteress drip honey…but in the end she is bitter as gall…her steps lead straight to the grave…Keep…far from her…At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent” (Pr 5:1-11 NIV).  Solomon spelled it out for his children. Do likewise.

(2) Temptation in the area of addictions.  Again Solomon is right on the mark: “[Drinker who's]…always crying the blues…reeks of self pity…getting beat up…bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business” (Pr 23:29-30 TM).

The addict’s life is not fun! “In the end it bites like a snake…Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things” (vv. 32-33 NIV).

Don’t let the enemy deceive your children.

Pray faithfully, speak His life-changing Word into their hearts, believe God and watch Him work!

- from a daily devotional