Deception and Depression have known each other intimately for a long time and it was only this morning when my Bible pages flipped open to 1 John 3:7 that I realized how intimate they really are.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
I have been digging, fighting the enemy and following God to discover the roots of my depression. I stated once before I knew there was more than one, so imagine my surprise when I came upon this huge cluster of roots all intertwined. At first glance, I thought, these have been together since day one and how in the world can they ever be separated? That’s when God stepped in with these words, “They all started with one. My child, if you’ll allow me, I will separate and destroy each of these roots. Will you be patient enough and allow me to do this for you?”
Overwhelmed doesn’t even describe what came over me. God has revealed to me that all these roots started with DECEPTION and have since intertwined every time I believed a lie about myself or God. I also came to the realization that deception always brings depression along for his “adventures”. Deception begins digging in his roots, so at the appointed time, depression can add his roots as well.
The root God has chosen to show me today through this verse in 1 John is the root of “NOT ENOUGH”. I’ve written posts previously about how I always feel like I’m not doing enough for God, for the people in my life or just in general. I’ve also admitted that I knew it was a lie. Here’s where I didn’t go far enough.
Admitting you recognize a lie in your life is great. It is the first step, but it is NOT the only step. I allowed myself to be deceived into thinking, it was okay to feel this way every now and then, because hey, I’m not perfect. Negative thoughts and even doubts would cross my path, but as long as I turned those thoughts and doubts over to God all would be well. Only part of that is true.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Turning my thoughts over to God for confession, repentance and forgiveness is SUPER IMPORTANT. However, it continues through Romans telling us to not be conformed to this world. Renew our minds, proving what is good, acceptable and perfect. We are not suppose to accept that negative thoughts and doubts will cross our minds. Deception wants us to conform and accept this lie, THINGS HAPPEN. If I conform to this way of thinking, of course negative thoughts and doubts will cross my mind, because I’ve opened the door for them. I’m not even making them knock.
Renewing my mind, proving what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God is the only way I’m going to slam the door, slide all 1,000 locks into place and when I hear a knock, I won’t even acknowledge it. Negative thoughts and doubts cannot be acceptable to us, not if we want to have a chance of kicking depression out of our life.
Deception has made me way too passive in my way of thinking and acting in life. I allow things to happen that if I were fully on guard, fully renewing my mind, I’d never even consider getting close to taking place in my life.
Back to the root of NOT ENOUGH. God showed me through His mercy, grace and kindness that I have to do more than just admit I know a lie when I see it. I have to rebuke it, renew my mind from it and burn the lie with HIS HOLY WORD.
God showed me 1 John 3:7 for a reason today. I already had the verse marked in my Bible, but whenever I did that, it wasn’t obvious to me what power the verse truly held. I now have a weapon whenever the thought NOT ENOUGH decides to drop by for a visit.
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
The next time Deception swaggers up to me, I’m going to beat him with this very verse and watch as Depression cowers behind him. In fact, I don’t even think Depression is that brave. I believe he will flee while his best friend gets a Bible verse beat down. In that very moment, I am going to claim God’s power and promise through His Holy Word and take back a part of my life I have been without for so long.
Understand, whether you stand up for a bullied co-worker, friend or family member IT IS ENOUGH, because you are doing the RIGHT thing. Accept that showing a hardhearted person kindness by smiling, saying hi or even just a simple wave is the beginning of something beautifully RIGHTEOUS. Picking up a piece of garbage while you are out shopping, is ENOUGH. God doesn’t want us throwing trash around His creation. Cleaning it up is the RIGHT thing.
Do you know why those examples above are ENOUGH? Because they open the door for God to start something even bigger. Every action, every word & every thing we do FOR GOD, is ENOUGH. Because we are doing it for HIM, it is the RIGHT thing to do and as long as we submit all that we do unto God, HE WILL USE IT!!!
I will never be that Evangelist standing on a rock, behind a pulpit or on the street bringing thousands to Christ. I will never be that woman that collects a thousand coats for people who don’t have any. I will never be that woman that opens a soup kitchen and serves millions of hungry people. LET ME TELL YOU what I will be.
That Evangelist will need someone to come alongside them and encourage them. I AM that woman. The Coat Collecting lady needs people to give her coats. I will give her as many as I can afford. Soup kitchens need people to serve the soup. I AM THAT woman. That is ENOUGH. Being the woman God created me to be, answering His calls to give, serve or encourage is what is ENOUGH for me.
Your ENOUGH may look very different from mine and I think that is pretty awesome. You may be the Evangelist. You may be the Coat Collecting lady. You may be the Soup Kitchen owner. That is what makes your RIGHTEOUSNESS ENOUGH. Doing what God has called you to do for Him and His people. You may even be the same ENOUGH as me. The woman in the background. IT IS ENOUGH!!! And let me tell you, I am so happy to serve alongside you.
This post is linking up with #chasingcommunity #HeartEncouragement and #FreshMarketFriday
- The Path To Serving God - December 5, 2018
- Fitting In - November 11, 2018
- Grief. My Unique Experience. - September 21, 2018
Love this, Naomi: ” a Bible verse beat down.” Amen to pulling down those lies and proclaiming God’s truth over our lives. Happy to serve alongside you, sweet friend!