Depression Cannot Exist in a Singing Saint!

You will never see a depressed saint who is a singing, praising saint!

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Singing for Joy!

“The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” Job 29:13

“O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.” Psalms 67:4

Cultivating the perpetual praises of God in our personal lives is key to victory. Ps 34:1

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalms 34:1 

Reading Psalms informs us of David’s enemies and also of His relentless pursuit of the LORD. “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” (Psalms 63:8)

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15

“Continually” – when you cease to thank and praise your Maker, darkness, depression will descend upon your heart.

Contentment of heart begins when we verbalize – say it out loud – our thanksgiving to the LORD who alone gave us all that we ALREADY have ….. do it. Thankfulness

God wants you to thank and to praise Him – to praise your way into His joy and out of your depression!

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalms 43:5

When you find yourself “cast down”, depressed, turn on the praise due to the name of Jesus Christ, let His holy name flow from your lips out of your heart, and He will fill your heart and light up your “countenance.”

I find that when I am tempted to be depressed, bitter, sad, or negative, I have to praise God out loud and militantly…… sing and verbalize praise and thanksgiving and worship. 

Think about it: Every person who is not born again and presently living in the Spirit, in an abiding relationship with Christ, is miserable, is depressed instead of full of the joy of Christ (John 14-16).

“Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.” Isaiah 52:9

“Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.” Isaiah 65:14

Prayer and praise are the ultimate weapons against darkness! Are they not cousins? Praise = P-Raise or raise a prayer in song! (Ephesians 6:10-18) Jesus is coming.

“There is nothing better than when God fills your heart and life with HIS love and joy. There is nothing on this earth that comes close to it. Thank you Jesus.” Maureen Lundie

“Give thanks” appear 80 times in God’s Word!

Thanks giving leads to thanks living – Living in grateful appreciation for all that the LORD has done for us!

Shout for Joy!

“The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.” Psalms 65:13

God is gracious. Are we choosing to be possessed with the right, thankful, grateful heart toward our LORD, no matter what it looks like in the natural, in our circumstances? God is looking on our hearts. Thankful!

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15

The born again disciple of Jesus can sing his way out of any situation or anything that could possibly happen! He can also sing his way into the joy of the LORD!

Sing, singing, sang, and sung appear 165 times in God’s Word. Here’s a beautiful sampling …

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” Matthew 26:30

“I learned to praise God in the good times and bad thankfulness no matter what knowing He has our back and will never leave us or forsake us. What a mighty God we serve!” Nancy Cote

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” Exodus 15:1

“And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” Ezra 3:11

“Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:” Number 21:17

“Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, 2  Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves. 3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.” Judges 5:1-3

“Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?” 1 Samuel 29:5

“And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.” 2 Chronicles 29:28

“Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.” 2 Chronicles 29:30

“Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.” Psalms 106:12

The example of many a patriarch who truly worshipped God no matter what they faced, is on display from Genesis to Revelation, Paul and Silas being no exception:

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:25

The praises of God flowing from the saint of God, effects everyone around that saint.

Listening to praise music is one this: Lifting your hands and voice to praise and worship Jesus is yet another! Cry out to Jesus! (Psalms 22:3)

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:9

“And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:3

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” 2 Chronicles 20:22

“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” Psalms 7:17

“I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Psalms 9:2

“Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” Psalms 9:11

“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalms 30:4

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Psalms 30:12

“Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.” Psalms 33:2

“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” Psalms 33:3

“Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” Psalms 47:6

“For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” Psalms 47:7

“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.” Psalms 96:1

The words praise, praises, praised, and praising appear 313 times in the Bible.

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalms 22:3

When we sing unto the LORD, when we praise Him in song, His presence and joy well up in our hearts.

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The divine fuel for the joy of the LORD which is your strength is the WORD. Are you throwing logs on that fire today? Devour! (Jeremiah 15:16; Job 23:12; 1 Peter 2:2)

No believer can be full of the strength and joy of the LORD without daily devouring His words. Wise virgin saints seek the face of the LORD continually with daily, intimate communion with Jesus (1 Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 25:1-13). All who choose to put self before Jesus and therefore don’t perpetually seek His holy face, will fall away, be lukewarm, and eventually vomited, spued from Christ and His body for not abiding, remaining in Christ – enduring to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; John 15:1-6; Revelation 3:15-16).

Concerning the unthinkable idea of being out of the Word of God, sister Cheri C. writes: “I would be grieved in my spirit so much … I would be in TRAVAIL…WILL NOT SETTLE for ANYTHING LESS THAN SOLD OUT…PASSIONATE 150% in the WORD… STANDING on the WORD… SPEAKING the WORD…LIVING the WORD… HEARING the WORD…STUDYING the WORD.”

WORSHIP AND PRAISE IS ALL ABOUT JESUS: Is much of what we call “praise and worship” today nothing more than completely selfish? Consider: Look around you and the multitudes who run to get a feeling from “praise and worship” yet whose lives are not grounded in Christ daily – no cross, no real fruit, no evangelism, plagued by self-absorption …. completely self-serving? Wolves love this because they set up, they stage the great band and music and it draws many. Numbers = nickels. It’s a bu$iness model. It’s fun not but ultimately fatal. Wolves today set people up to receive their half-truths false gospel with good music. Are you personally studying God’s Word daily to learning the doctrines of the Christian faith?

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