The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 20
Thing About What You Are Thinking About!
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
– Philippians 4:8
I believe that depression and anxiety are fuelled by negative and irrational thoughts. There is a cycle where, what one things about influences one’s feelings and one’s feelings influence one’s behaviour. In my experience, because my mother and I did not live in the same house and we did not have the kind of relationship where there were conversations about the activities of my life, I thought that she did not love me so she did not care what happened to me, even though she worked very hard and went all out to ensure that all my physical and educational needs were met. Also, my relationship with the adults in the home where I grew up was just the same as that with my mother so I thought that they too did not love me and did not care about me. Therefore, I felt rejected and abandoned. Hence, I isolated myself. I was afraid to let anyone in my life. I thought that since my mother and family do not love me and do not care about me then no one else will so to avoid being rejected all over again I kept to myself. My thought patterns were so negative that I was either rationalizing or irrationalizing everything. As a result, I accepted every lie told to me by the devil and kept thinking about them. Hence, one of the reasons I wanted to disappear so badly that I attempt suicide so many times.
What are you thinking about? What lies have you been told by the devil that keep you thinking about them and causing you to fear, be anxious and depressed?
As I am writing this devotion, I can hear my adopted mother’s voice in my ears as she often encourages me, “Joanne, stop listening to the lies of the devil. Besides, whose report do you believe? “… whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things””. The latter is what Paul admonished in Philippians 4:8.
My dearly beloved, when you thing on the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, in which there are virtue and praise, then the enemy cannot fill your mind with rational and irrational thinking that is contrary to God’s Word and cause you distress.
It is not always easy to focus you thinking on such things, especially when you are battling depression and anxiety (if anyone understands this, I do), but you have to make a conscious effort and a commitment to do so in order to achieve victory over the enemy in your mind. I encourage you to start by thinking about what you are thinking about. Refute those thoughts if what you are thinking about do not fall in line with Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8, then get to work on restructuring your thoughts with the help of Almighty God.
Shalom!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father I worship You for You alone are worthy of my worship. I give You praise for You are Great and greatly to be praised. Thank You for teaching me in Your Word what to think on so that my mind may remain in a positive place. I declare today that I will always think only on those things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report so that they will be reflected in my life. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
