Depression vs. Delight: 12 Meditations

Scripture (Philippians 4:4-9)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 ⁸Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Observation

Peace and joy. You’d think we would be more willing to experience these regularly. Those are the side benefits of hanging out regularly with Christ. Here are just four the benefits picked up from just this Scriptural passage:

·        Rejoicing is always reasonable.

·        The Lord is always near.

·        Anxiety is never necessary.

·        Peace is a side benefit of prayer, gratefulness, reality-based thinking—and peace isn’t even the main delight.

Application (Personal)

Proverbs 18:14--A man's spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

1.        On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being crushed, how healthy is my spirit?

Proverbs 12:25--Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

2.        What am I most anxious about?

3.        What might God's still, small voice saying to me?

Proverbs 15:13--A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

4.        What's sad to think of?

5.        What's gratifying to think of?

6.        Why am I choosing one way of thinking more than the other?

Proverbs 15:15--All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

7.        What's dark about the future?

8.        What's bright about the present?

9.        Why am I choosing one way of thinking more than the other?

Proverbs 17:22--A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

10.     Which direction will I choose?

11.     Which lifestyle will I resist?

12.     Which lifestyle will I fight to win for myself (and to have leak out into my relationships with others)?

Application (Psychological)

New scientific studies about the importance of positivity (which is not the superficiality that has been based on such wishful axioms as “Grin and bear it” or “Don’t worry, be happy.” Instead, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson defines it as consisting of “the whole range of emotions—from appreciation to love, from amusement to joy, from hope to gratitude, and then some. It includes positive meanings and optimistic attitudes that trigger positive emotions as well as the open minds, tender hearts, relaxed limbs, and soft faces they usher in. It even includes the long-term impact that positive emotions have on your character, relationships, communities, and environment.” Based on extensive research, she asserts that “positivity opens us. The first core truth about positive emotions is that they open our hearts and our minds, making us more receptive and more creative.” (Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive. 2009. Crown Publishing Group. pp. 6, 21). Finally, I have a reasonable foundation for seeking positivity in the midst of difficulty: enjoying the rigors and delights of God’s presence gives me a perfect excuse for smiling and even laughing more often. It’s nice that science is catching up with Scripture.

Prayer

O Lord, You have searched me and known me …. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:1,24,25).

Unlocking Spring

S (Scripture)

(Psalm 72:1) Give the king Your justice, O God, and Your righteousness to the royal son.

O (Observation)

This prayer concluded David's second book of psalms. In it, he asked God to bestow His divine nature upon Solomon, and history records that this specific prayer of David's was answered specifically. Solomon's acquisition of God's righteousness was preceded by--it was unlocked by--David's prayer.

A (Appication, Personal)

Paul, by the Holy Spirit, followed this same example. Writing to his spiritual son Timothy he said (1 Timothy 2:1-15), "First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." [Second], Paul urged people to pray for their own righteous integrity before God ("lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling"). [Third], he urged people to pray for their righteous integrity before each other ("adorned ... with good works ... in faith and love and holiness, with self-control"). It's amazing we (I) don't pray more after seeing what it accomplishes!

A (Application, Psychological)

How much of our lives are spent on our own ambitions and resourced by our own inbred thinking instead of asking God for His views and values? As wonderful as it is to study God's creation (whether it's psychology or economics or medicine or politics or education or botany or physics or anything else), how much more wonderful would our studies be if we asked the Creator for His insights? David, as king, understood how necessary it was for his royal son to understand true righteousness, so he prayed for that. Oh, that we were all as smart as David!

P (Prayer)

Lord, I seek Your justice and Your righteousness. I want to know Your verdict on all things that matter in my life ... and I pray that for my immediate and extended family as well. May we abide in the comforting spring sun of Your light, goodness, and love. May our lives similarly radiate Your splendor.