Don’t play around with depression. As soon as we start feeling disappointed, we must say to ourselves, “I had better do something about this before it gets worse.” If we don’t, we will ultimately get discouraged, then depressed.
Jesus gave us “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” to put on (Isa. 61:3 KJV), If we don’t use what He has given us, we will sink lower and lower into the pit of depression and could end up in real trouble.
When we know to do right and we don’t do it, we are what I will call “flirting with the devil.” In the world a man or woman might flirt with someone at the office, yet never move into a full-blown adulterous affair. But we cannot flirt with the devil like that.
Once we open a door, he may get a foothold. Once he gets a foothold, he can obtain a stronghold. He is progressive and aggressive in his action against us, and we must be aggressive against him.
I remember when God revealed to me how wrong self-pity was. He told me that I could not be pitiful and powerful. I had lived in self-pity most of the time. At that time, I made a real commitment not to allow that negative emotion to rule my life any longer.
When something didn’t go my way, and I felt like feeling sorry for myself, I resisted the feeling right away. If I had let it go on, I would have moved deeper and deeper into it.
I recall one time thinking that I wanted to feel that way only for a while and then I would pull myself out of it. I was sitting in my prayer chair drinking my morning coffee.
Dave had hurt my feelings so I wanted to feel sorry for myself. I knew I could not stay that way but was not ready to give it up just yet.
The Lord showed me that by my not wanting to give up that feeling immediately, it was as if I wanted to have one cup of coffee with Mr. Pity. That may not sound too harmful, but it might be all the time the devil needs to get a stronghold that cannot be easily broken.
God covers us to a greater degree when we’re ignorant and really don’t know that we’re doing. But once we know what is right and we willfully choose to do wrong, it puts us in a different arena.
God still loves us and still wants to help us, but we have a greater degree of accountability. Knowledge gives us accountability.
Someone handed the following story to me during a conference where I was teaching on sin and how to handle it. It really brings across the point I am making.
A young girl was walking along a mountainous path. Making her way up the mountain it became very cold. While on her journey a snake approached her.
The snake said, “Please pick me up, I am cold.”
The girl said, “I can’t do that.”
The snake said, “Oh, please make me warm.”
She gave in and said, “You can hide inside my coat.”
The snake coiled itself and became warm. The girl thought everything was O.K. Suddenly the snake bit her.
She dropped the snake and said, “I trusted you; why did you bite me?”
The snake said, “You knew what I was when you picked me up.”
If we flirt with the devil, we will always get hurt. Refusing to put on the garment of praise because we don’t feel like it or don’t want to is dangerous. It opens a door for deeper problems that can cause serious consequences.
by Joyce Meyer
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. A New York Times bestselling author, her books have helped millions of people find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches on a number of topics with a particular focus on the mind, mouth, moods and attitudes. Her candid communication style allows her to share openly and practically about her experiences so others can apply what she has learned to their lives.
Joyce hosts a TV and radio show, Enjoying Everyday Life, which broadcasts worldwide to a potential audience of 4.5 billion people. She has authored 100 books, which have been translated into more than 100 languages. More than 12 million of her books have been distributed free of charge around the world, and each year millions of copies are sold.
Joyce conducts close to a dozen domestic and international conferences every year, teaching people to enjoy their everyday lives. For 30 years, her annual women's conference has attracted more than 200,000 women from all over the world to St. Louis for specifically themed teachings by her and guest speakers.
Through her teachings, God has provided opportunities to meet the needs of the suffering and bring the Gospel in a practical way. Joyce's passion to help hurting people every day is foundational to the vision of Hand of Hope, the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. These outreaches around the globe include feeding programs, medical care, homes for orphans, and programs combatting human trafficking. In her hometown of St. Louis, Joyce and Dave, her husband, founded the St. Louis Dream Center (SLDC) in 2000. The SLDC serves the inner city through hands-on programs targeted at reaching the lost and hurting with the love of Christ.
Over the years, God has provided Joyce with many opportunities to share her testimony and the life-changing message of the Gospel. Having suffered sexual abuse throughout her childhood, as well as just dealing with the struggles of everyday life, Joyce discovered the freedom to live victoriously by applying God's Word to her life and in turn desires to help others do the same.
Joyce is and continues to be an incredible testimony of the dynamic, redeeming work of Jesus Christ.