21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 3

21 Days to Beat Depression
Written By Carol McLeod
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21 Days To Beat Depression - Day 3

"Be not grieved or depressed for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  - Nehemiah 8:10

So many things, products and disciplines in life boast that they have the power to strengthen you.  Truly, truly, there is only one commodity that will strengthen you in your innermost being and that is the joy of the Lord.

The joy of the Lord strengthens you and empowers you to be the person that God thought of when He first thought of you.  Joy is not a weak, insipid, rapidly changing emotion but it is at its best when life is at its worst.

If you plod through life without the strength that only His joy can deliver, it will turn you into a weak, whining and ineffective Christian.

We really do have an enemy, his name is Satan, and he has a strategic life plan for you just like God does.  Satan’s plan is to steal your joy and to weaken your resolve.  Satan’s plan is to infect you with disappointment and vaccinate you with discouragement.  How does he do that, you may ask?  Well ... I am so glad that you asked because I do have an answer for you!

The devil is not after your health and he could care less about your marriage or your finances.   Your children don’t mean a thing to the devil but what the devil is after is your joy and the way that he tries to steal your joy is by going after your health, your marriage, your finances and your children.

The devil knows that he cannot deny you of your salvation or of the forgiveness that Jesus has given to you.  So, what he tries to steal is the most valuable commodity that he is able to get his greedy little hands on.  Satan is relentless and he will do everything that he can to lie to you and eventually deceive you out of your joy.

Today, let me challenge you to stand toe to toe... nose to nose with the accuser of the brethren and declare in his ugly little face, “Satan... you can not!!  You will not!!  You will never be able to take my joy from me!”

When you choose to defy the enemy with the joy that Jesus died to give you, you will become a powerful force in the world today.  God can use joyful Christians who are bold enough to hang onto their joy no matter what is going on in their circumstances.

  • MAKING IT PRACTICAL -

Today, there are 2 assignments in the “Practical Application” segment of “21 Days to Beat Depression!”

  1. Write someone a thank you note who has been a blessing and an encouragement to you. Tell them how much you appreciate them and the role that they have played in your life. Write it and mail it today! Don’t wait until tomorrow!

  2. List three more things for which you are grateful in your “Thanksgiving Every Day of the Year” list! Don’t forget to share your morsels of gratitude on Twitter or on Facebook with #21daystobeatdepression!

  • DECLARATION -

I declare today that Satan will no longer steal my joy!  I will be a strong and powerful Christian because God’s presence has given to me the gift of joy!

  • PRAYER FOR TODAY -

“Dear Jesus, I love You so much and I am so thankful for Your joy.  Thank You that it is Your joy that strengthens me and propels me into all that You have for me this year.  Father, even on the days when I do not humanly “feel” joy, I know that I have it because you promised it to me.  I stand on Your promises not on my feelings.  In the powerful Name of Jesus 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 4
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21 Days to Beat Depression - Day 2