Date: Saturday, June 21, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 71-74
Message Title: Healing For An Ailing Spirit

Strength, it's more than just the ability to lift up something with the physical body, it's the ability to lift up the spirit, mind, and soul. Every one of us has times in our lives when our physical bodies are weak due to stress, so weak, that it is a struggle to even get out of bed. There is one word to describe this, depression, which is a state of sadness, hopelessness, and lack of ambition, contributed by an ailing spirit. Believe it or not, Christians are some of the most depressed people, in fact, many have taken their lives because they saw no hope of en end to their problems. There is hope, we can mend an ailing spirit, and we can find the strength to keep going, that strength, Jesus Christ. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:13.

I do not know how much a person can take before their ailing spirit results in severe depression, only God knows that, but we all handle stress differently. Unfortunately, many people have become addicted to drugs, among other things, in an attempt to escape their problems. One thing I have learned over the years is that you cannot hide or run from your problems, they always follow, and bring with them. When life gets confusing and our spirit is in dire straights, that is when we need to put our trust in God even more. “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” - Psalm 71:1-5.

God is our hope. When life get so overwhelming, He truly is the only hope we have that can bring joy out of a bad situation. Believe it or not, people are watching us, some are just waiting to see us fall, in hopes that we will forsake God along the way. While our spirit fails, it is the strength of God that keeps us going, and gives us hope. We must not forget that, we are not the fools, those who do not believe are the fools. “I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.” - Psalm 71:7-9,14-16.

Asaph was one of the leaders of David's choir, he wrote quite a few psalms himself, he has issues dealing with people who do not believe in God and wonders what most Christians do, “Why am I struggling and not those who have no interest in God?”. He recalls his envy of the wicked prospering. “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.” - Psalm 73:1-5,12-14.

Perhaps one of the triggers of an ailing spirit is envy, those of us who try to live according to the Word of God, and see everyone else prospering while you struggle day to day. I will admit that there have been times in my life that I have cried myself to sleep because all I wanted was for God to bless me as those who care less about Him get blessed. Then God pointed something out to me, they may appear to be blessed, but they are struggling more than I ever will. When I chose to follow Christ, not just get saved, but allow Him to live in me, my life changed, and although I still have some struggles I have an expected end for mine. That cannot be said for those who do as they please with no regard to God, and they do suffer, they will just not tell you that. Asaph discovered the same thing. “When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” - Psalm 73:16-18,21-23,26-28.

We do not have to let an ailing spirit bring us to a depressed state, we can break free from that chain. We do not need pills, food, or to give into fleshly lusts, and for goodness sake, we do not need to end our lives because we feel it is the only solution to end our problems. We have a great God on our side, who will help us, and take it from someone who knows God's power to overcome depression, He will heal the ailing spirit, and He will give hope to a heart that just wants an end to all the pain. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:19-22,35,36.

Today's Prayer: God, Life has a way of making our spirit sick, and it causes so many physical and mental ailments as well. While You allow us to go through the problems we face, You do give us a way to find healing and bring life back to us through Your Son. Lord, touch and heal those with an ailing spirit, give them peace and hope of an expected end. You have never gone back on Your promises, and You ever will, give us the patience to endure our troubles, and keep us looking forward to that blessed hope of your promises. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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