In the book Prozac Nation-
Elizabeth Wurtzel describes her experiences with chronic depression.

Unfortunately-
Depression is an experience common to many people.

Life can be terribly unfair, terribly tragic!
That’s why many people like Elizabeth have sought relief from antidepressants like Prozac.

There are those who feel that being a Christian makes you somehow immune to depression.
If you happen to fall into the pit of despair, you’re not very ‘spiritual’ are you?

Such judgments add a load of guilt to a person who is already miserable.
For those who struggle with feelings of depression-
– there’s bad news and good news.

The bad news is that such feelings are a fact of life in this broken world.
Some disappointments or tragedies can leave a person depressed.

The good news!
You are not alone.

As Psalm 73 (and many other passages) clearly shows, even God’s chosen people experience anxiety, despair, and darkness in their soul.

If Psalm 73 doesn’t convince you-
– check out Elijah’s story (1 Kings 19) and Jesus’ experience in Gethsemane.

Matthew 26 speaks of Jesus’ soul being ‘crushed with grief to the point of death.’ v. 38.
Depression that lasts for a long time indicates a need for counselling.

There is nothing unusual or unspiritual about-
– ‘walking through the dark valley’ from time to time.

When you are caught in one of those unpleasant times, don’t add guilt to your load!
Just trust that God knows what’s up and will help you through this situation!

(PR)

The post Don’t Add Guilt to Your Load appeared first on My Manna.

“The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves” (Psalm 93:3).

What do you do when you find yourself threatened by the floods of wickedness?

What did the psalmist do?
He looked at God’s throne!
“The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.” v. 1.

No waves or floods can disturb the throne of God.
But often we don’t look high enough.
We see the floods, but we don’t see God.
We see the waves getting higher and higher, and we don’t lift up our eyes by faith and see the eternal, established, secure, strong throne of God.

He heard God’s testimonies!!
He didn’t listen to the sound of the waves.

Today, you might hear a lot of threatening sounds.
Don’t pay any attention to them.
“Your testimonies are very sure.” v. 5.

The psalmist heard God’s testimonies and said, “I can trust the Word of God.”
He remembered God’s trust-worthiness!!!

Peter when he walked on the water.Matt. 14:28-31.
He took his eyes off the Lord and forgot His promise.

Jesus said to him, “Come!”
That’s all Peter needed.

He should have said to himself, “If Jesus says, ‘Come,’ I can come!”
Because-
His commandments are always His empowerments!

God’s throne is established!
And His testimony is sure!!

When you see the flood approaching-
Lift your eyes higher to see the throne of God.
Open your ears to hear His Word.

Fearing any flood?
Put your faith to work and trust His promises of power and protection!

(PR)

The post Fearing Any Flood? appeared first on My Manna.

Many of you are faced with personal crises!

For some of you it may be in your family. For some of you it may be the divorce of your parents or a lingering illness of someone you love.

For others of you it may be a crisis in your personal life.
It could be that an important relationship has been severed.

Or perhaps a door has been closed on an opportunity that seemed to be the fulfillment of your dreams.

For some of you the crisis is spiritual. You are struggling with a decision that will determine the direction of your life.

Like Jacob, you are wrestling with God, and the outcome is still in doubt.

Now you are not sure what lies ahead.

Whatever your problem-
I want to encourage you by saying that-
– it can become your doorway to a new and deeper relationship with God.

It is often in the crises of life that-
– the disappointments and pain cause us to turn toward God.

In times of difficulty the scales are stripped from our eyes!
And we are motivated to focus our attention on Him!!

“Lord, You are faithful to us even in our times of doubt, difficulty and questions.
Thank You for Your unconditional love and patience toward us.
Help us to turn toward You when we are confused and struggling, so that we may grow closer to You.
Thank You for never leaving us or forsaking us.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

(PR)

The post Scales Are Stripped appeared first on My Manna.

“Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of his servant? He that walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God” (Isa. 50:10).

What shall the believer do in times of darkness?
Times of darkness come to the faithful and believing disciple who is walking obediently in the will of God;
– seasons when he does not know what to do, nor which way to turn.

The sky is overcast with clouds.
The clear light of Heaven does not shine upon his pathway.
One feels as if he were groping his way in darkness.
Is that you?

What shall the believer do in times of darkness?

Listen!
“Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and rely upon his God.”

The first thing to do is do nothing.
This is hard for poor human nature to do.

There is a saying that runs thus:
“When you’re rattled, don’t rush!”

In other words, “When you don’t know what to do, don’t do it.”
We are to simply trust God.
While we trust, God will work.

The peace of God must quiet our minds and rest our hearts.
We must put our hand in the hand of God like a little child!

And let Him lead us out into the bright sunshine of His love!!

He knows:
The way out of the woods!
Let us climb up into His arms!
And trust Him to do the needful!!

Remember!
We are never without a pilot when we know not how to steer.

(PR)

The post Hand in the Hand appeared first on My Manna.

The next time you feel at rock bottom, read Psalm 130. “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord” (v1). Three basic requests in this psalm echo the concerns in our hearts today.

First, the psalmist asks God to hear him. “Lord, hear my voice!” (v 2).

Why? “I can’t swim; I am in the deep waters, and they are coming over my head. I am drowning, and I’m afraid I can’t make it.” No matter how far down you may go or feel, God always hears you.

Then he asks God to hold him. “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (v 3, 4). We can’t stand before God in the courtroom of His justice; we are helpless.

Only Jesus Christ can stand there, because only He is perfect. But He stands with us, He’s our Savior. God not only hears us when we are down, but He holds us. He says, “I forgive you. You’ve trusted my Son; you’ve confessed your sin; and now you can stand before Me.”

The psalmist expresses his confidence in this truth: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning” (v 5, 6).

Next he asks God to help him. “O Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption” (v 7). We are sometimes like soldiers in the watchtower, waiting for the light. We can’t see, but God can see, and there is a future hope for His people.

Place your confidence in the promises of God’s Word. No matter how down you may feel – God hears you, holds you and helps you! Turn to Him; He’ll see you through.

(PR)

The post He Will See You Through appeared first on My Manna.

Psalm 23 speaks of the “valley of the shadow of death.”

For every shadow, there must be a light.

Christ said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). A shadow may frighten you, but a shadow cannot really hurt you. I dare say that a shadow at one time or another has spooked many of us. But, thank God, even death is but a shadow if you know the Lord Jesus Christ!

If you keep your face toward the light – the shadow will fall behind you!
You won’t even see the shadow!!

Jesus is the Light of your Life!
God doesn’t bring us to a valley to leave us there. He always brings us through. God is never closer to you than when you are in a dark valley. He is especially near.

Are you in a state of confusion or despair today?
Do you feel hopeless about a situation you are in?

Read Psalm 23:4, and praise God that He takes you “through” the valley and doesn’t leave you there. Ask Him to give you wisdom to learn what He wants you to learn, to stay focused on Him, and to witness to others of His strength in the valley.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

(PR)

The post Light of Life appeared first on My Manna.

We understand David’s distress in Psalm 142 while he was hiding from Saul in a cave. In his distress, he looked in-
Four directions!

David looked within!
“I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then you knew my path” (v 1-3).

He looked within and said, “Look, I’m in trouble; I’m complaining; I’m overwhelmed.” Introspection sometimes can be good for you, but don’t spend too much time looking within, or you will get discouraged.

David looked around!
Hoping to find help! “Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul” (v 4).

Do you ever feel like that? Do you look around and say, “Nobody even cares–everyone is bearing his own burdens,and nobody wants to share mine”?
Perhaps in those situations you should take time to bear other people’s burdens–then they might be interested in your concerns.

David looked up!
“I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living” (v 5).
In other words, “God, you’re going to hear my cry. You’re going to deliver me from my persecutors; they are stronger than I am.”

David looked ahead!
“Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me” (v 7).

After you have seen the glory and the blessing of the Lord, you can look ahead with confidence.

Perhaps you are in a cave of discouragement today!
Your hope lies not within yourself or with your circumstances.

Look to the Lord and obey His Word. Then look ahead with confidence, for
God’s promises are sure and His Word is true!

(PR)

The post Look to the Lord appeared first on My Manna.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps 145:18)

Isn’t that a great promise? It’s one you can put to work today.
God is near to those who are stumbling.

The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. (Ps 145:14 ESV)
You may have stumbled and fallen. Perhaps you just didn’t do what you should have. Maybe you stumbled in your job, and you are embarrassed and worried about it. Perhaps you have stumbled into sin.

God is near to those who carry burdens. Those who are bowed down with the weight of care can find rest if they will call upon Him.
God is near to those who are starving.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. (Ps 145:15)
Verse 16 shows how simple it is for God to answer prayer:

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Ps 145:16 ESV)
All God has to do is open His hand to meet our needs today.

The problem is, we often don’t open our hearts and cry out to Him.
God is near to those who are seeking.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (Ps 145:19)
God is near to those who seek Him with love.

The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (Ps 145:20 ESV)
Follow the advice of James:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
God is not far from you.

He’s waiting for you to take that first step, to cry out to Him and say, “Lord, I want to draw close to You. Here I am.”
Have you stumbled? Are you carrying a burden, or are you in need?

He promises to be near to all those who call upon Him.
He neither leaves you nor forsakes you!

(PR)

The post God is Near appeared first on My Manna.

Is your past preventing you from being a fully devoted Christ follower and a Christian worker?

Are you a Christian without honor? Isn’t easier to be “Christ-Like” around people who do not know your past? Jesus was in his hometown teaching in the synagogue. The townspeople that he grew up with were listening and were amazed.

But look at the bitter words they lashed out “Isn’t the mere carpenter, the one who works with his hands, isn’t this the illegitimate son of Mary? Isn’t this the guy with the very ordinary brothers and sisters?”

Do people do this to you today? The evil one wants us to live in our past. He wants to remind us of all the excess baggage we are carrying around. God on the other hand wants us to repent and ask forgiveness for our past, and then

God forgets and looks forward. God wants us to place our excess baggage at the foot of the cross and leave it there.

Never to go back
and claim the sins of our past. Leave them at the cross. Jesus continued to travel throughout the land teaching and performing miracles.

He never looked back.

Do the same. Don’t keep looking back at your past forgiven sins, keep looking toward the Cross. The cross of forgiveness, the cross of redemption and salvation.

“A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench;
He will bring forth justice for truth.”
(Isa 42:3)

With Christ, there is endless hope!
But without Christ there will be hopeless end.

Follow Him!
For-
He knows your future; holds your future and is your future!

(PR)

The post Endless Hope appeared first on My Manna.

The post Be of good courage! appeared first on My Manna.