Do you find that you are always fighting depression and you can't seem to beat it? If this is you—you need the "praise cure."

First of all, depression comes from taking thoughts of fear and failure. These thoughts do not come from God. You cannot stop these depressing thoughts from coming, but you do not have to receive them into your mind.

For example, you cannot stop people from knocking on your front door, but you don't have to let them in. It is the same thing with depressing thoughts, they come to you but you don't have to open up the door of your mind and let them in. Also, many times these depressing thoughts point towards the future, with fear regarding the unknown…but God is the God of today.

Jesus already gave us instructions concerning this. He said in Matthew 6:34, "Do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own troubles" (AMP). God doesn't want us to be anxious or to worry at all. He wants us to take one day at a time and together with Him, He will help us with each day!

God is a good God! All the time! Jeremiah 9:24 shows us God's character, "I am the Lord Who practices loving kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight says the Lord" (AMP). God practices loving kindness and He delights in it. Glory to God!

Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever," and Malachi 3:6 (AMP) says, "For I am Lord, I change not." God never changes. He is always loving and kind.

1 John 1:5 says, "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." Evil, sickness, poverty, depression, and fearful thoughts are all manifestations of darkness. Peace and joy are manifestations of light. God is light.

The way to combat depression and fear is to meditate on the truth of God's Word until it becomes so much a part of you that it starts to overflow from your mouth in thanksgiving and praise unto God for Who He is and for what He will do for you.

You will become so full of the truth that there will be no room left for depression or fear. Ask God to alert or quicken your spirit and mind when you begin to take depressing thoughts.

Once you are aware of what is happening, you can speak to them and say, "You lying depressing thoughts (they are lies because they are contrary to God's Word concerning you), you can't come into my mind. I refuse to take these thoughts. I choose to meditate on the Word of God, in Jesus' name."

Then begin to praise and thank God that He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7), that He protects you (Ps. 91), and supplies all your needs (Phil. 4:19), and that He always causes you to triumph in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 2:14). The depressing thoughts will leave quickly in the presence of God's Word and praise, because "God inhabits the praise of His people" (Ps. 22:3).

Make it a practice—a habit—to continually thank and praise God. Hebrews 13:15 says "through Him (Jesus) therefore let us continually and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name."

Ephesians 5:19-20 says, "to speak to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spirituals songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all (Godly) things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So, "put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness" (Isa. 61:3) and depression will flee from you!

Take the "praise cure!" It works.

Abundant Grace Fellowship Church
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