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What I am about to share is very foreign to modern psychology. Before we talk about the Biblical Remedy for Depression, let’s lay a foundation first. There are three parts of man: Body, Soul and Spirit. The Body is the physical attributes, or those things that bother us physically which bring about depression. This is what scripture is talking about when it says, "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." II Thessalonians. 3:13.

When you wear yourself down physically, you are more prone to depression. There should be a regular exercise time that is not work or responsibility related. A walk around the neighborhood would be a good example of stress-relieving exercise. Carrying the burdens of others can make you weary in well doing. Learn that you cannot carry everyone’s burdens on your shoulders. There are burdens you can share, i.e. husband, wife, children, or close friends, but do not take their entire burden on your shoulders.

Secondly, there is the Spirit that involves our personal relationship with Christ. Depression comes from this portion of our being if we have never been saved or if we have somehow quenched the Holy Spirit’s moving in our life. Maybe the Holy Spirit prompted us to do something in particular and we did not respond, or maybe He called us into a particular field of service and we did not follow His guidance. It may be that we are spiritually immature, which makes it difficult to understand the spiritual things in life. It may also be that your spirit has been wounded by the actions of someone you were close to spiritually.

If depression comes about due to the spirit part of man’s makeup, then it can only be corrected through a spiritual decision. Often times that spiritual decision is to gain forgiveness from either the Lord or others that you may have offended.

Now, the third way depression comes is through the Soul. This is one of the most critical ways depression gains a foothold in our life. Our soul is made up of a Mind, Will and Emotion. The Mind deals with what you think. We have unfortunately been taught that you correct your thinking by not thinking thoughts that are damaging to you emotionally and spiritually. The problem with that advice is that it is impossible. No one can think nothing on purpose. Your mind is always in operational mode. It doesn’t matter if you are asleep, awake, busy or playing your mind is always active. Here is the biblical remedy for changing your thinking. Phil. 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

The Bible remedy is quite different from the secular, psychological remedy. The Bible doesn’t direct us not to think wrong thoughts but rather to think right thoughts on purpose. If you think right thoughts on purpose it leaves little time to think wrong thoughts by accident. When you are not thinking right thoughts on purpose, Satan reaches into the file folders of your mind and pulls out every wicked, damaging thought that has ever been filed there. The only way to overcome Satan’s reminding us of every wicked thing we have ever heard or seen is for us to "Think Right Things On Purpose."

The second part of the soul that brings about depression is our Will. Sometimes we want to be depressed because it is a way for us to demand the care of others.

The third portion of the soul that brings about depression is Emotion. Both men and women suffer depression due to this element of the soul. We are emotional beings, which makes life enjoyable and our relationship with Christ so rewarding. Think of all the emotional responses we make in regard to Christian service. The times we say amen, the tears we shed, or the laughter when something wonderful happens are all expressions of emotion.

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