21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 17

21 Days to Beat Depression
Written By Carol McLeod
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21 Days To Beat Depression - Day 17

“But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You.” - Psalm 5:11

Do you believe it?  Do you believe what the Bible says?  If you do... then you will agree with me and with the Bible,  that when you express joy from your heart that it will begin to heal you!

This word “joyful” from Proverbs 17:22 is an active word!  It means to express joy or to rejoice!  When we express joy it acts like a powerful healing agent to our souls.

That’s what the Bible says!!  And I believe that the Bible is the final authority on everything, don’t you?!

It is more important for you to express joy every day than it is for you to take your vitamins, your blood pressure medicine or eat an apple.  Just like a powerful antibiotic heals infections, joy is a powerful healing agent when applied daily to our souls. (Disclaimer:  Please keep taking your vitamins, blood pressure medicine and keep eating those apples!)

The word “heart” in this verse is the Hebrew word “leb” and it encompasses these parts of your life: your heart, soul, mind, thinking, reflection, memory, will, conscience, resolution, appetite, emotions and passions.

You must think joyful thoughts!  No more stinkin’ thinkin’ from you!  Change the way you think from depressing, dark, gloomy thoughts to thoughts of sparkling joy!  You can do it!  You choose what you will think about every day.  Today... just for one day... think about joy!  This one choice will heal you!  No one else tells you what to think about but YOU!  So YOU can do it... think about things that are lovely, pure and joyous!

When your memory kicks in, don’t remember all of the times when people were unkind, when you didn’t get your way or how rotten your life used to be... remember the good times.  Recall the happy days of your life.  Think about childhood friends and kind teachers.  Remember winning moments and precious times.

We all have bad memories.  We all do!  None of us have lived perfect lives... but the secret to living a joy-filled life today is to leave the pain of the past behind which means not to think about it any more!  Do not rehearse the pain of your childhood, former marriages or evil employers!

Resolve to leave the Eeyore part of your persona behind and become the most joyful version of yourself possible.

I am never offended when people call me Mary Poppins or Pollyanna.  Wouldn’t you rather be identified by those sunny characters than as Cruella deVille or Scrooge?!

Resolve to choose joy... to express joy... and to be healed by joy!

It all starts with a single, healthy choice.

  • You can smile at someone.

  • You can think positive thoughts.

  • You can remember happy days.

  • You can sing rather than whine.

  • You can invite a friend to lunch.

  • You can send a sweet e-mail.

  • You can bake cookies and take them to a large family.

  • You can encourage your boss.

  • You can serve your spouse.

You can thank the Lord that these daily choices of joy are healing your heart!  You can... you can... you can!

  • MAKING IT PRACTICAL -

  1. What does it mean to you to “choose joy”? Write it down in your “Thanksgiving Every Day of the Year” journal and then take your own advice!

  2. I have thousands of things for which I am grateful!! How about you? After you write three more things in your journal today, share it with me on Facebook or on Twitter. #21daystobeatdepression

  • DECLARE IT! -

I declare that as I express joy it is healing the deepest places in me!  I declare that I will think joy-filled thoughts and speak words of joy today!

  • PRAYER FOR TODAY -

“Father, I thank You that You are rejoicing over me today and I determine in my heart to live a joy-filled life.  I thank You that as I choose the joy of Your presence that the healing of my emotional pain and heartache has begun!  In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.”

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Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 18
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21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 16