“ ‘Depressed?’ Let’s Activate Joy and Take a ‘Deep-Rest’ ”

By: Nancy Abiera

 

(Continues from the last issue)

Ecclesiastes 8:15: “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” God gave us life to have joyful fellowship with Him and with one another. When joy is absent, we cross the foul line stepping out of God’s presence exposing ourselves to the enemy’s attack. Reaction continues and we attack others or they attack us. It is like a loselose domino effect.

Isaiah 55:12: “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the fi eld will clap their hands!” Joy and peace do not mean absence of trials/testing. They are sure indications of the presence of God’s power, faith and glory. When we focus on Him, darkness is dispelled with His light. Moreover, let Him turn our scars to stars.

Jeremiah 31:13: “The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” God is God. We are not. We are God’s children. Dance your stress away. Praise Him until be break into the atmosphere of breakthrough.

1 Peter 1:8: “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” Love and joy are like faces on the coin as they go hand in hand. When we are in love, we are joyous and vice versa.

1 Peter 4:13: “Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” As we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, this gives us power to be co-investors with dividends/interest of more joy not only for ourselves but for future generations.

Yes, joy can be seen on the surface of a smile or laughter expressed emotionally. However, joy goes deeper as we make a deliberate CHOICE, to act on our will and live in the spirit realm where we are hidden in God’s protection/ provision. Our obedience brings forth joy, which is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy is supernatural in the depth of the spirit realm transcending into our soul (what we think, feel and desire) as well as our body.

No one can steal our joy unless we give it away. It emanates from the real you, the “God-Created- You” as we are all made in the image and likeness of God. This is the state when we line up/agree with what God thinks feels and desires/ wills. Thus, we are joyful and alone with God. Depression lies in the fake you, the “Self-Created-You”, the state of what we think, feel and desire without God. We are lonely and alone without God.

Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, we come short of the “God-created-identity” to a lower “self-created identity” where sorrow, sadness, depression and negative emotions reside naturally.

Joy is not the absence of trials, but rather facing the trials that actually produce more faith and steadfastness as we obey.

I repeat JOY as J. Jesus is the source of joy; O. Obedience is key; and Y. Yielding (investments/ dividends/interest) so your joy may be full for us to share to others. Joy is perfect and pure; protecting us as we embrace and rely on God alone in faith expressing our complete trust in Him alone.

JOY as I mentioned earlier is a choice. As we choose God’s will over ours, joy comes. Not our will, but let God’s will be done. Our will surrendered to the Will of the Father is to obey willfully the Word of God faithfully as God gives us His power, faith and glory working wonders, signs, and miracles.

Joy is also a conscious choice, connection, commitment and covenant, communicating our willingness/ obedience to God’s authority. Joy connects us continuously to the Holy Spirit bearing fruit in us. It is a commitment to the covenant with God communicating His love to us as we communicate His love to others. It is the fruit of obedience abiding in the commandment as our love expression to the Father. Abiding + Obeying= Complete Full Joy in God’s presence.

Jesus also said: “That My Joy may be in you, that your joy may be full.”

In other words, the presence of joy gives no room to fear … Fear blocks joy. Joy is on one side of the door where love is on the reverse. In love, there is always joy.

Lastly, you cannot prove what God is saying in His word in advance but if you live and love it, you will fi nd every single one true. It is not just in thoughts or words but in the moment of the doing by CHOOSING WILLINGLY. This is where joy is harvested, completed and fully working in our lives with signs, wonders, and miracles. “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good this of the land.” Isaiah 1:19

Rejoice in the Lord always! Hallelujah! Amen!

Always choose “On A Bright Side” moving further and farther “On A Brightest Side”.

I love you readers with the love of the Lord yet the Lord loves you the most. You are blessed. Smile and be a blessing!

Rev. Nancy H. Abiera