Sunday Omori
It was a long dark night, over two decades ago in Mkpani town. Close to my family house were some trees that housed all kinds of birds. From my room, I could hear one owl hooting for a while and it seemed not to be weary. My parents and siblings were fast asleep. A couple of minutes before the owl began to hoot, my mother knelt beside my bed to pray to God for my healing. That night, I had an asthmatic attack and I was writhing in pains. I couldn’t bear the abnormal breathing any longer; then I prayed in my heart that God should cut short my life. I was sad, discouraged and hopeless. You wouldn’t be reading this message if God had answered my prayer.
So many people have had this kind of experience or other depressive moments and wished to die but God intervened. You may be going through a moment of depression right now resulting from sickness, unemployment, hardship, delayed marriage, barrenness or any other unwanted issue; remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Though weeping may have lasted for a night, your moment of joy is here in the name of Jesus Christ (Psalms 30:5).
Depression is a spirit – the spirit of despondency and dejection. The Bible calls it the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3 – King James Translation). In other Bible translations, depression is described as the spirit of grief, despair, suffering and weakness.
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Some medical experts see depression as a normal human emotion – felt from time to time. It happens in the form of mood swing or disorder. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. It is also the world’s leading cause of disability. Emotional symptoms of depression include: extreme irritability over seemingly minor things; anxiety and restlessness; trouble with anger management; loss of interest in activities, fixation on the past or on things that have gone wrong and thoughts of death or suicide (Healthline.com, 2021).
The good news is that God gives His children the Spirit of joy, power and a sound mind – For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). God gives His children His Spirit to help them overcome the spirit of depression. The Spirit of God overpowers any other spirit. God releases His Spirit to be with, dwell in and be for His children. Our onus is to ask for and receive God’s Spirit.
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13)
So, to overcome the spirit of depression, you must receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The moment you receive Jesus Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and the Spirit of Christ who is also the Spirit of God dwells in you. The Spirit of God helps a believer to pray, feed on God’s word and praise God.
Prayer is very important when it comes to overcoming depression. Through prayer, God intervenes to destroy every contrary spirit including depression. Prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, is a weapon of war that is used to conquer every enemy of a believer. The Bible admonishes any believer who is afflicted to pray to God (James 5:13). God is ever present to deliver His children when they cry for help.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Philippians 2:9-10)
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17-18)
“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
God’s word penetrates a believer’s body, soul and spirit to destroy the spirit of despair, dejection and any other strange or unfriendly spirit. A believer needs to study and meditate on the word of God daily to experience supernatural joy. Thinking and trusting on God’s promises or what God has said concerning that issue of concern lifts a believer’s soul and spirit. The word of God concerning any unwanted issue, gives hope to the hopeless and brings life to any situation that looks dead. Furthermore, find time to listen to messages God delivers through His anointed servants and the spirit of depression will never have dominion over you. Do not remember the past and stay focused on the new thing God is doing in your life (Isaiah 43:18-19).
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18 – 19)
Another weapon that destroys the spirit of depression is praise. Praise from a believer’s heart activates God’s presence and move. The spirit of depression cannot withstand the presence of God. Dance and sing songs of praise to God – acknowledging Him for what He can do, what He has done and what He will do for you. I have applied this weapon over and over again and it has worked for me. The Spirit of God gives a believer a new song of praise to overcome depression. You can as well listen to anointed gospel songs to overcome depression. Remember, you must be in God’s family to receive the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3).
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” (Psalms 40:1-2)
“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalms 22:3)
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalms 42:11)
Accept Jesus Christ today and depression will be a feeling of the past. Say this prayer of salvation: Lord Jesus, I receive You as my Lord and Savior; I believe that You came and died for me and God raised You to save me. Come into my heart and conform me to Your likeness. I declare that I am born again. Amen!
HEM Int'l 