The Spirit is Very Near You!Speaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: Our Lord will satisfy and make complete the weary soul removing depression, fear and sorrow. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for you with groaning that cannot be uttered. There are three types of strengths that we receive from the Lord. A man has three parts -- spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We tend to become weak in our spirit, soul and body. We shed tears saying, "This is the end, I can not do anything." But whoever believes, the Lord will not put him to shame.
I know a sister who when treated for cancer, prayed faithfully saying, "Lord my hair should not fall like it does for everybody when treated for the disease". The Lord, according to her faith granted her beautiful hair, none of which dropped. Those who believe in the Lord shall not be ashamed!
"For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul." (Jeremiah 31:25)
Our Lord will satisfy and make complete the weary soul removing depression, fear and sorrow.
Everyone at my home were afraid before my daughter Angel was born, because she was born six years after Paul. Particularly, my husband was greatly troubled. The doctors, after examining me said that the baby would be born on the next day morning and many othervarious things that troubled us. But my eyes were upon the Lord. I asked the Holy Spirit with full belief, "Lord, You strengthen me." Immediately a divine strength filled me. That night, when nobody was near and even before the nurse could arrive the child was born. The Lord granted the strength in my body when I was weak.
My dear friend, do not be depressed when sorrow sets in. The Lord will be with you and will strengthen you completely. He will fill the weary soul with His might.
We see the promise of the Lord being fulfilled in the life of Sarah.
"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." (Hebrews 11:11)
Sarah had passed the age of child bearing. To beget a child after that age was humanly impossible. But the Lord honoured Sarah's faith and strengthened her to bear a child. The same Lord is alive even today. He is able to give you that same strength. Leave all your contradictory thoughts such as, "The doctors say that I will not be able to conceive." "Others say that my family will not be built." "Will I get married at all?" "Will my child get married at all?" Our Lord calls those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4:17). If you believe you shall see the glory of God (John 11:40).
The servants of God such as Moses and Elijah were used by the Lord to do mighty miracles. Although they witnessed many wondrous things, when they happened to come across unpleasant things in life, they complained to the Lord saying, "Enough Lord, take my spirit!" Dear friend, all of us become broken in spirit at some point of our lives. Even though we live a zealous Christian life, when troubles come we become depressed. But the Lord says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:15).
Once Pope John Paul met with a crisis. He wished to implement something new in his church. For that, he had to form a committee and reveal the matter to them. But he was apprehensive as to what their response would be. He did not sleep that night. He walked to-and-fro in his room. At that time, he heard a voice saying, "Little John, go to sleep". Hearing this he was surprised. He was a man of ripe old age; but when he was young, his mother used to call him "Little John". Suddenly when he heard the voice, he felt that his mother had come; but when he listened intently, he came to know that it was not his mother who called him, but it was the Lord Jesus Christ! He was filled with a divine joy, consolation and strength when he heard Jesus say, "Little John, go to sleep. I will do everything for you." The thoughts that troubled him left.
Depressions set in even in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ! He said His disciples, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death." Even before He was crucified on the cross, He prayed to His Father, "Father, if You will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not what I will but what You will." If the Son of God could be depressed so much, how much certain it is for you and me to be depressed! In the midst of that depression, if you look to the Lord, the Holy Spirit will strengthen you. If you let God know your situation through prayer, the Spirit Himself will make intercession for you with groaning which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). He will fill you with joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter1:8). The strength of our spiritual life is in proportion with the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is very near you now. Ask Him to fill you with His strength.
Prayer:
Blessed Holy Spirit of God,
I welcome You into my life today. Fill me with Your strength and help me overcome the depression of my mind. Govern all my thoughts and let them all be positive. Encourage me to overcome the thoughts that the devil brings in: negative thoughts, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of depression, thoughts of hatred and bitterness. Fill me with thoughts of Jesus, my Lord.
Amen. |