Major depressive disorder affects approximately 17.3 million American adults, or about 7.1% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, in a given year. (National Institute of Mental Health “Major Depression”, 2017) Major depressive disorder is more prevalent in women than in men. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2003; Jun 18; 289(23): 3095-105) 1.9 million children, 3 – 17, have been diagnosed with depression. (Centers for Disease Control “Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health”, 2018) Adults with a depressive disorder or symptoms have a 64 percent greater risk of developing coronary artery disease. (National Institute of Health, Heart disease and depression: A two-way relationship, 2017) How To Get Depressed In 4 Easy Steps Wear Yourself Out Shut People Out Focus On The Negative Forget God God’s Prescription For Depression Rest and Eat And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. 1 Kings 19:5-8 Sometimes we make things complicated, but if we do not take care of the body that God gave us it will not respond well. If we will not steward the body that God gave us, we cannot expect him to heal us. Replace the Lies with Truth There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1 Kings 19:9-10 There were lies being said about Elijah, but he needed to stand on the truth! The world will tell us what we cannot do, but God determines what we will do! Listen to His Voice And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12 Notice that the voice was at a whisper. Often we have to quiet all the noise in our lives to hear the voice of God. The Lord gives us something to do. And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 1 Kings 19:15-16 God has given us all something to do, and if we do not do it, we will not be happy unless we are in his will. If your life is a mess, why don’t you try to do it God’s way? What does this mean for us? What voices are you listening to? Do you believe that God loves you and has a plan for you? Do you need to be set free? _________________________ Decision Form August Reading Plan Join us for Hope Connect.