'Depression' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.” vss. 36-37 Psalm 119:33-40 Because we carry the divine spark in our genes we have an innate sense of how life shall be lived. Of course, from the time we are toddlers we are also receiving alternative messages from our context and culture. We are regularly encouraged to look to our own needs, build up wealth,…
Daily Devotions
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” vss. 15b-16a 1 Peter 3:13-17 It’s not unusual in these days of political division and constant turmoil for our conversations to reflect despair and pessimism. We get a full dose of bad news with every news cycle, and each day brings reports of mass shootings and border turmoil. Disaster seems just…
Daily Devotions
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!” vss. 1-2 Psalm 130 It’s not much fun to live in the depths! The view is terrible and our only companions are depression and despair. But it was a familiar dwelling place for the psalmist–he likely lived in Jerusalem and life there was full of lamentable occasions. Calamity was a regular visitor. On this day,…
Daily Devotions
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!” vs. 9 Psalm 27:6-9 People of faith find it hard to remain steadfast through tough times. Even the psalmist’s fine words turned accusatory when the light of the Lord seemed to dim. When there was no response to his prayers for help, he immediately assumed…
Daily Devotions
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,” vs. 11 Psalm 30:6-12 The psalmist had a strong sense of having lived in the Lord’s favor through his entire life. There had been times when things had not gone well for him but he didn’t doubt that the Lord had his back. He knew that ultimately God’s underlying love would lift him up, and that hope never abandoned him when times…
Daily Devotions
Psalm 89:1-4 “I declare that your steadfast love is established for ever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.” vs 2 Tradition ascribes this psalm to Ethan the Ezrahite, and calls it a maskil, a didactic poem, one that is used as a teaching tool. Ethan’s intention is clear, he wants all of Israel to know that God is faithful and that David was God’s chosen one, the founder of a dynasty that would last forever. For centuries Ethan’s…
Daily Devotions: June 22, 2019
June 22, 2019 For full passage click: Luke 8:26-34 …“When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’–” vs. 28 According to our sources, whenever Jesus encountered people possessed by demons, the evil spirits recognized him instantly and saw in him a power that was greater than their own. Sometimes they…