After Birthday Thoughts

Sorry its been a while..

I can't believe that it's already October. My birthday has come and gone. This years birthday was different. I look at life with new eyes. If you don't know Christ it's important to realize that Christians are not exempt from struggling. Last year at this time I was fighting depression.

Some very close people I love and generally turned to when struggling where under going their own life challenges. Close friends were getting into relationships leaving me the only single on in the house and the normal work of stress was mounting and I felt like I had no one to talk to. I share all this to make a couple points about life. And what I learned coming out of the 3 months of depression I was facing. I realize that this fight is different for everyone. Remembers God's truth is the same regardless of who you are.

1. God created us to need each other.  I Thessalonians 5:11: Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing. If your struggling with depression let someone in. God desires that we would support our other family members.
2. Learn God's promises, learn what his word says about you. The bible says that the devil comes to Steal, Kill and destroy.  I was talking with someone the other day and I stated hows it's interesting that the devil only really messes with me in one place. He knows where my faith is weak and where I'm struggling to believe the gospel and that's where he attacks every time. If you are struggling with your place in life, your self image or where you going. Keep in mind that.. 
• God has a plan and a purpose for your life.
• God loves you and sees through your hurt pain and weak spots and he calls you to be set apart. If you feel like your different it's because you are. God loves you so much that he created you to be an individual. 
• God hears your cry even when it feels like no one is listening
3. Learn about who God's is and what does the bible say about God and his character.  I'll give you a couple starting points. These things lead back to number to.. If you learn who God is.. You'll see that he always keeps his promises.
• God is the only one who always does what is good, right and perfect. 
• God is Great - So we don’t have to be in control.
• God is Glorious – So we don’t have to fear others
• God is Good - So we don’t have to look elsewhere
• God is Gracious - So we don’t have to prove ourselves

In the end I learned that God wants me to trust him. He wants me to give him my life and everything I have and am. In return he gives me the privilege of serving him,  being his kid.  It took me half of 2011 to realize that my depression was no more that the devil trying to attack me at the core of my faith in Christ. As I get ahold of my faith in the Gospel and what it says I see the world different. Look at all people with new eyes and I look at my life through Gods lense rather than my own.

Life is good, not by anything I've done but by me giving Christ my life and in return doing nothing but listening and then doing what he tells me.  The battle is not over.. I finish up with a favorite verse.

Hebrews 12:1: Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.