How To Beat The Blues!

Blues: Sorry, cast down, weary, grief, sad, depress, heart broken.

During this holiday season the Lord wants us to be thankful, full of joy, and in good spirits. After all, if you really think about it, that is the true reason for this season we call Thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:20 says, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Lord wants us to be happy and thankful every day, but especially during this Thanksgiving season. If we are doing our part, how can we become cast-down, depressed or heart-broken??

Here's how we are going to do our part and beat the blues this thankful season:

1. Believe: what are we believing in? The positive word of God, of course! John 4:49-51 tells us, "The nobleman saith unto him, Sir come down err my child die. Jesus saith unto him, go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth." Jesus didn’t have to preach him a sermon, the man simply believed. That’s the kind of trust we must have in His word.
2. Look for God's Purpose (i.e. Plan): to find God's purpose in this season, we will have to go through a test; but friends, remember those tests are designed to take us to the next level - not to make us sad or cast-down. We must go through each test with a thankful heart, knowing that God is too holy, too righteous, and too just to allow anything to cross our path that’s not for our good and His Glory. As 1 Peter 5:10 says, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
3. Utilize the Promises in the Word of God: we must be sure to make use of God's word, and rehearse His word back to Him. He said that He would never leave us or forsake us; and that He is a very present help in the time of trouble. Philippians 4:19 says, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" and Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." How can we become sad or cast-down if we are utilizing God's word?
4. Encourage other people: this may come as news to some, but it's not always about us - we must spread some cheer among others, encourage, and motivate someone else. As II Corinthians 1:4 tells us, "Who comforteth us in all tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted to God."
5. Sing God's Praises: finally, no matter what our situation is, we must still be thankful. Look at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25-26. They had been beaten and put into prison, and despite that, at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God. If they can sing praises after all of that, surely we can manage to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and be thankful for the many, many wonderful things He’s done for us.

So you see, it’s easy to beat the blues this Thanksgiving season - we just need to continue to be thankful for all things and all situations. Remember, it’s very important that we give thanks, because God gives blessing by the way we give thanks.

With all that said, let the church say amen... And AMEN!