Steps to Joy Restored

August 7, 2015

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:12-13

EAT HEALTHY, NOURISHING FOOD. After the prophet Elijah had an amazing breakthrough, he got depressed. God gave Elijah practical steps to eat, get hydrated, and sleep to help get him out of discouragement.

SLEEP SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY. God promises sweet sleep to you (Proverbs 3:24) and “gives to His beloved even in his sleep” (Psalm 127:2).

But he [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die . . . He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.” . . . So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 1 Kings 19:4-7

KEEP COMPANY WITH GOOD PEOPLE. Surrounding yourself with positive people can help pull you out of depression. If you feel isolated and alone, plug into church. Find some people you are compatible with.

AVOID NEWS OVERDOSE. Instead of being freaked out by the distortion of the times, we need to look to the good news of Jesus. Don’t ignore the problems of the world, but definitely put them in their place by keeping first things first.

FOLLOW AN EXERCISE PROGRAM. Get up and walk. It’s important to move it so you don’t lose it!

DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL EACH DAY. Get up and serve. If Jesus can rise from the dead, He can lift you out of the miry clay. We are called to represent Jesus in and through our lives. He will restore your joy so that you can get liberated to go out and set others free.*

Daily Confession
The joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Since God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31)? I believe that He who began a good work in me will see me all the way through (Philippians 1:6). Whatever the trial or the complexity of the battle, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves me.

“How often the way to spiritual strength and mental restoration is that of physical renewal!” –G. Campbell Morgan

Press on,
Pastor Jeff

Copyright © 2015 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. *Points used from Mayo Clinic Publication: Sood, Amit. The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-free Living. Boston: Da Capo, 2013. Print.