From my own personal observations I would venture to say that there are a lot of sick, hurting people that have prayed for healing and yet, did not receive this in their lifetime. This was not because of a lack of faith on their part but their healing was delayed for the ultimate glory of God. Your view on healing is biblically naïve and is of limited or no benefit to others who may be hurting.
Depression and prayer
- Thread starter JFSurvivor
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This leaves out so much.
That doesn't mean there's never pain for a Christian. There will be pain in all of our lives. We can give thanks to God in all things, even through our pain, but in order to do that, there will be...pain.
Sometimes you're gonna have a bad day. Or week. Or month/longer period of time. Everyone has suffered something and will suffer from something else, regardless of how "good" a Christian they are. You're supposed to give thanks anyway, but that's ultra-hard...hence a depressed person's difficulty in praying. Praying helps everything, but it's hard to pray when you need it most. (I know people always need prayer, but I mean when they're the most down.)
That doesn't mean there's never pain for a Christian. There will be pain in all of our lives. We can give thanks to God in all things, even through our pain, but in order to do that, there will be...pain.
Sometimes you're gonna have a bad day. Or week. Or month/longer period of time. Everyone has suffered something and will suffer from something else, regardless of how "good" a Christian they are. You're supposed to give thanks anyway, but that's ultra-hard...hence a depressed person's difficulty in praying. Praying helps everything, but it's hard to pray when you need it most. (I know people always need prayer, but I mean when they're the most down.)
ABMF,
Yes I have depression and yes I am a sinner. I am aware of the fact that I am sinner and of the fact that depression is a result of a fallen world. My depression is not a result of my personal sin though. Depression can drive people to sin and do horrible things to themselves however for those with Jesus, the temptation is still there however we have such a good God that we do not have to succumb to these desires due to the fact that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. This does not mean that our spirits will be lifted and that we will be all happy-pappy! This also does not mean that our prayer life will not suffer. This means that when we are depressed we have Jesus to hold on to this poo storm that has now taken over our lives.
I really hope you get the prayers and provisions you need because you sound just like my teacher. He used to yell at us for being "down" and told us that it was unethical to be sad and that we would bring other people down with us. You must be hurting a lot for you to be saying such things and my heart honestly breaks for you like it does for my teacher. I will be praying for you.
I sincerely wish you the best!
JFSurvivor
Yes I have depression and yes I am a sinner. I am aware of the fact that I am sinner and of the fact that depression is a result of a fallen world. My depression is not a result of my personal sin though. Depression can drive people to sin and do horrible things to themselves however for those with Jesus, the temptation is still there however we have such a good God that we do not have to succumb to these desires due to the fact that God is good all the time and all the time God is good. This does not mean that our spirits will be lifted and that we will be all happy-pappy! This also does not mean that our prayer life will not suffer. This means that when we are depressed we have Jesus to hold on to this poo storm that has now taken over our lives.
I really hope you get the prayers and provisions you need because you sound just like my teacher. He used to yell at us for being "down" and told us that it was unethical to be sad and that we would bring other people down with us. You must be hurting a lot for you to be saying such things and my heart honestly breaks for you like it does for my teacher. I will be praying for you.
I sincerely wish you the best!
JFSurvivor
So how long have you been a Christian, ABMF?
And do you go to a WoF church or maybe IHOP where you have learned these heretical doctrines about a Christian never having to suffer?
I had an old friend I had not seen in maybe 30 years I visited about 2 years ago. She was raving about IHOP and their healing and deliverance ministry. Over and over actually. It was very apparent she was in the early to mid stages of Alzheimer's. Funny how that works. Well, at least she couldn't remember she had a serious disease which would prematurely end her life.
And do you go to a WoF church or maybe IHOP where you have learned these heretical doctrines about a Christian never having to suffer?
I had an old friend I had not seen in maybe 30 years I visited about 2 years ago. She was raving about IHOP and their healing and deliverance ministry. Over and over actually. It was very apparent she was in the early to mid stages of Alzheimer's. Funny how that works. Well, at least she couldn't remember she had a serious disease which would prematurely end her life.
A
Well if your a sinner I innvite you to come to Jesus. Jesus said 28 “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Jesus Christ will grant you salvation, the forgiveness of sin, removal of the old life and give you a brand new start. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, shedding His blood so that those who will believe can have fellowship and eternal life with God. The Kingdom of God is ready to take up its rulership and place in your life if you will believe. Repent, stop what your doing, turn around and go the other way, the way of the cross of Christ and recieve Jesus Christ as your Lord and master. He is the good teacher who will teach you how to walk in His joy.
Jesus Christ will grant you salvation, the forgiveness of sin, removal of the old life and give you a brand new start. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, shedding His blood so that those who will believe can have fellowship and eternal life with God. The Kingdom of God is ready to take up its rulership and place in your life if you will believe. Repent, stop what your doing, turn around and go the other way, the way of the cross of Christ and recieve Jesus Christ as your Lord and master. He is the good teacher who will teach you how to walk in His joy.
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I emphasized the operative word there; the word that I did not disagree with. I just said that it's hard. And the more depressed someone is, the harder it is to rejoice. This is not hard to understand.
I'm gonna take the high road like others on this thread and leave it at that for you.
JFSurvivor, I really admire your strength for praying for your teacher and ABMF. Maybe in your difficulty to pray, having someone else to pray for will keep you going, at least until you can bring yourself to pray more easily. At least for me, praying for others keeps me in prayer when otherwise I would feel like I have nothing to pray for, or I already asked for something I haven't received yet. It's a shift in focus. Being an intercessor keeps me praying and keeps me repentant as well.
I'm gonna take the high road like others on this thread and leave it at that for you.
JFSurvivor, I really admire your strength for praying for your teacher and ABMF. Maybe in your difficulty to pray, having someone else to pray for will keep you going, at least until you can bring yourself to pray more easily. At least for me, praying for others keeps me in prayer when otherwise I would feel like I have nothing to pray for, or I already asked for something I haven't received yet. It's a shift in focus. Being an intercessor keeps me praying and keeps me repentant as well.
It's not a "OMG I'M SOOOO HAPPY" rejoice! It's more of a "this sucks and it hurts and even in this pain there is a part of me that is grateful for Jesus because there is literally nothing left to be grateful for. And even when there is nothing left to be grateful for Jesus is a really good reason to be thankful" And the pain is still there, you're still sad but it's that small bit of gratitude that keeps you alive.
No problem, sorry that I worded it wrong, so God used you to heal how many people?
I believe the answer must be at least a few people, before you can open your mouth to beat up and blame people who did not yet receive healing, instead of encouraging them and building them up in faith. And even if God used you to heal 1000 people, it would still be wrong to do this to others. You're tearing down, not building up.
I believe the answer must be at least a few people, before you can open your mouth to beat up and blame people who did not yet receive healing, instead of encouraging them and building them up in faith. And even if God used you to heal 1000 people, it would still be wrong to do this to others. You're tearing down, not building up.
Then quit playin around and lay a hand on JFSurvivor so you can actually be of help here. I'm not trying to be mean, but you haven't even so much as offered a truly encouraging word. We are supposed to encourage each other: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-12, Ephesians 4:29, Galatians 6:2 etc. There needs to be much more empathy than you are demonstrating here. Jesus suffered and wept on behalf of others, so I'm just not understanding why you seem to not even be trying to have that same empathy when Jesus should be our model.
JFSurvivor,
Depression can make life difficult in all kinds of ways including your prayer life. It may help to know that prayer does NOT need to be formal and you DON'T need to know what to ask for.
There is a form of prayer called conversational prayer in which you talk to Jesus as you would talk to your best friend.
Tell Jesus how you feel; and ask Him to do for you whatever He thinks best. If it occurs to you, try to think of something you are thankful for; and praise Him for it. If it doesn't occur to you; don't worry about it. He understands depression.
Be ready to hear His side of the conversation! You may not hear an audible voice; but, if you are open to it, He will speak to you.
Depression can make life difficult in all kinds of ways including your prayer life. It may help to know that prayer does NOT need to be formal and you DON'T need to know what to ask for.
There is a form of prayer called conversational prayer in which you talk to Jesus as you would talk to your best friend.
Tell Jesus how you feel; and ask Him to do for you whatever He thinks best. If it occurs to you, try to think of something you are thankful for; and praise Him for it. If it doesn't occur to you; don't worry about it. He understands depression.
Be ready to hear His side of the conversation! You may not hear an audible voice; but, if you are open to it, He will speak to you.