21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 19

21 Days to Beat Depression
Written By Carol McLeod
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21 Days To Beat Depression - Day 19

"Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” - Psalm 32:11

Never underestimate the importance of righteous living in your determination to be a joy filled Christian.  If you think that you can live a life of compromise and selfishness and still be the beneficiary of heaven’s joy, think again!

The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is filled with God’s opinion on the importance of living a righteous life.  I am not talking about legalism or bondage but I am talking about the decision to make sure that your life is aligned with the principles set forth in the Word of God.  Righteousness is God’s idea of freedom and life at its very finest!

Righteousness is simply living your life in submission to God’s ways.  It might mean ridding your life of compromise or second-rate decisions.  It might mean changing the way you talk or how you spend your time.

Perhaps today would be a great time to take stock of your life and to ask God to reveal anything in your life that needs to change.  If the thought comes to your mind that you have been impatient with your spouse lately, don’t minimize that thought.  It is probably from God and He is revealing an area of your life that needs to change.

Perhaps, after asking God to reveal areas in your life that need to change, you might wonder if you have been spending too much money lately.  Or you might wonder if you have been wasting too much time on the computer.  Don’t throw those thoughts away.  It might just be God helping you to clean up your life so that you are able to life a life of joy today!

Sin is a thief that targets the valuables  which will determine your potential to live an abundant, joy-filled life.  If Satan can keep you in a place of sin or compromise, you will find it much harder to live a life of heaven’s joy.

This is hard stuff, isn’t it?  We want the joy without having to give up gossiping, fantasy and selfishness.  I can tell you from personal experience that you can’t have sin and joy at the same time.

God doesn’t want you miserable... He wants you filled with the joy of His presence!  You can do it and I can, too!  We can all determine to demolish the momentary pleasures of sin in order to be blessed with the joy of His dear presence!

  • MAKING IT PRACTICAL -

  1. In what ways have you been compromising your life with sin? Why don’t you write those things down, repent for each one and then throw that piece of paper in the trash! Today is a new day and God loves to help us overcome!

  2. If you don’t understand what joy is all about... that’s o.k. This is what I can tell you: joy and thanksgiving are not so very far apart! Thankful people just happen to be the most joyful people on planet earth! So... today I am thankful for Christmas music, pumpkin pie and the beach. What 3 things are you thankful for? Write it in your journal and share it with me on Twitter or on Facebook. #21daystobeatdepression!

  • DECLARATION -

I declare today that I will no longer be in bondage to sin and its chains.  I will live a life of righteousness and joy!  I will put the past behind me and choose to live my life in alignment with the Word of God!

  • PRAYER FOR TODAY -

“Dear Jesus, I know that I have often sinned and therefore disappointed you.  Will you forgive me?  Will you forgive me for my selfishness and my compromise?  Jesus, I confess that I need You in order to overcome the sins of my flesh.  Thank You for giving to me Your Power and Your strength.  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