How To Move Your Mind To Keep From Becoming Depressed

 John 16:1

"These things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling.

Hebrews 10:23-25,30,34,36

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.  For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people."  Accept joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

  God has a the best strategy for having a better, more productive day, no matter what is going on in your life.  What He wants you to do is to not focus on the person or situation that is bothering you.  He will handle that.  That’s why He says, “Vengeance is Mine. I will judge my people.”  That means if someone has really done something to offend you, like stealing something that was yours, whether it is real property, your time, or simply your happy mood, you can only do what you can do.   But then you have to let that go. Because if you are “stuck” in a place where all you do is think about what is bothering you, you will become depressed.  The cycle of depression goes like this:  first, you feel frustrated because you think you have no control over a situation; then you stop doing things because you feel bad; which only makes you feel more depressed. That’s why God wants you to jump off the “Bitter Circle” after you have done all that you can, and let Him judge and punish. Your peace of mind is necessary for you to function in the world, so that you will want to do God’s will and get the goodies. So how do you actually move your mind?  Just like with a two year old, when they want to do something that you know is bad for them, you have to replace that behavior with something else.  They want to grab your makeup?  Offer them a different, more appropriate toy.  And here is God’s “appropriate toy” designed to keep you from stumbling so that you will be at peace and get what God promises, which is His wonderful will for your life: with everyone you meet, think about how you can encourage them and create a desire in them to “love” and do “good deeds.”  That’s God’s “Circle of Love.”  That’s God’s strategy for getting out of a funk and overcoming depression.  The kinder you are; the kinder people will be to you.  You will feel better and so will they. As a result, they will be kinder to others, and so the circle continues. So, bottom line, with whatever is tricky for you, give it your best shot; let God judge and control the outcome; and then redirect your thoughts, words and actions to the God’s Circle of Love, which always results in peace.  

Click the link below to see my books,
"Keeping Your Lamp Lit"
http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Your-Lamp-Lit-Schuler/dp/1451559321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277386999&sr=1-1#noop
"Good Strategies for Bad Times"
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Strategies-Bad-Times-Schuler/dp/1438257775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265471485&sr=8-1