Getting Up From Down!

What do you do when you feel bummed out? How do you get yourself back up? Do you have a method you use to LIFT YOUR SPIRITS UP again?

Also, whenever you experience down moments do you wonder about your spirituality? Do you wonder if you are drifting away from God because "Christians should never feel down"?

Well, I don't know who started the idea that God's followers never have down times, because it's not true. The truth about life is that it has its ups and downs and with them come the changing of moods. Read through the Psalms and you will find times when David was down, but he always seemed to know where to look to regain a proper perspective of things, and thus was able to begin the journey back up.

One of the Psalms (noted as a Maskil of the sons of Korah) that reflects this type of focus is Psalm 42. Here the Psalmist remembered the up times and wondered about why he felt so downcast. He asked questions such as:

-- "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" (vs.5)
-- "Why have you forgotten me?" (vs.9)
-- "Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (vs.9)
-- "...my adversaries taunt me, ... 'where is your God?'" (vs.10)
-- He referred also to his "tears" as being his "food day and night" (vs.3)

Do those words reflect a gloomy spirit? But note the focus connected to those words:

-- "...Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (vs.5)
-- "...therefore I remember you.." (vs.6)
-- "By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me -- a prayer to the God of my life." (vs.8)
-- And again -- "...Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." (vs.11)

Do you see the method used to begin THE JOURNEY BACK UP?

--Focus on prayer.
--Focus on a song in your heart.
--Focus on your remembrance of God.
Remember blessings you have received in the past.
Remember He is mindful of you today.
Remember His promises for the future.
--Focus on your relationship to God.
Keep your hope there.
Keep praising Him.
Keep acknowledging Him as your Savior and God.

It has been said: "When you're down, everything is looking up!" So, when you are down, stop for a moment and collect your thoughts and once again set your sights heavenward.

Have a great day UPLIFTED IN SPIRIT BY THE LORD!
Carl
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[This focus was originally sent 07/05/1998, (Edited some and the passages
have been changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Encouragement