Earlier this week, the men's group at our church was presented with a message that came really close to the feelings in my heart and the thoughts in my head. We were reminded that our thought process can be flowing smoothly with ideas of God's kingdom and then in an instant of fear, anxiousness, worry or anger, it can be turned to something negative. That negative feeling can be directly connected to our body in chemicals that cause us to get nervous or sweat. We may get so hyped-up that we shake. We see it in a rush of adrenaline. We see it in our blood flow as pressure rises under stress. If it is not balanced quickly, that moment can extend to hours, days, weeks, and years of feeling defeated, frustrated, angry or beaten. 

My own life has been this way often. A strong moment of faith or an inspiring word will be resounding in my heart then something negative or someone with a negative word interrupts my flow of blessings and then "SHABANG!!" That moment of fellowship with God is gone. The strength that I held onto so proudly is tainted by Satan's fiery darts. The circumstance may be so severe that it dwells with me for days, weeks or months. It could be a sudden family illness, a financial burden, a failure on my part to be obedient or even just a disappointing action by one of my children. Maybe it is that person in the Christian community who judges our actions without love and encouragement. Anything that gets between the focus of walking with God and remembering his goodness can become that dreariness that leads into depression.

Believe me, I have seen this firsthand because my family has experienced it for decades. Now it scares the crap out of me. Why? Because depression can lead to dementia.  That is a problem that sounds almost self inflicted if we consider it by the scriptural points. Don't get all worked up. I realize there are many forms of dementia and we don't know enough about them to identify what exactly causes them. At the same time, there is evidence and testimony that shows certain levels of depression can lead into dementia. I know this as a fact from my own family's testimony but I can also see where it does not have to end this way. We have been given the means to control these emotions and the ability put these thoughts under restraint. It is a part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit called self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The speaker provided a list of "cans" that we should pray about with the intent of maintaining our focus on what God has made available to us. We do not have to live in that sullen and defeated mentality.

Here is this list. His suggestion was to pray over these 20 "Cans" over the next twenty-one days. That is three weeks of doing exactly what Jesus did when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Jesus just replied with God's word every time Satan tried to push one of his buttons. We have that same ability. Pray all of 20 of these points for 21 days just to see how Jesus will start to change the way you think. 

1. WHY SHOULD I SAY "I CAN'T" WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH (PHILIPPIANS 4:13).
2. WHY SHOULD I LACK WHEN I KNOW THAT GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL MY NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS (PHILIPPIANS 4:19)
3. WHY SHOULD I FEAR WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS GOD HAS NOT GIVEN ME A SPIRIT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND (2 TIMOTHY 1:7)
4. WHY SHOULD I BATTLE WITH UNBELIEF KNOWING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO ME A MEASURE OF FAITH (ROMANS 12:3)
5. WHY SHOULD I BE WEAK WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND TO TAKE ACTION BECAUSE I KNOW GOD (PSALM 27:1, DANIEL 11:32)
6. WHY SHOULD I ALLOW SATAN VICTORY IN MY LIFE WHEN HE THAT IS IN ME IS GREATER THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD (1 JOHN 4:4)
7. WHY SHOULD I FEEL DEFEATED WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD ALWAYS LEADS ME IN TRIUMPH (2 CORINTHIANS 2:14)
8. WHY SHOULD I LACK WISDOM WHEN CHRIST BECAME WISDOM TO ME FROM GOD AND GOD GIVES WISDOM TO ME GENEROUSLY WHEN I ASK HIM FOR IT (1 CORINTHIANS 1:30, JAMES 1:5)
9. WHY SHOULD I BE DEPRESSED WHEN I CAN CALL TO MIND GOD'S LOVINGKINDNESS, COMPASSION, FAITHFULNESS AND HAVE HOPE (LAMENTATIONS 3:21-23)
10. WHY SHOULD I WORRY AND FRET WHEN I CAN CAST ALL MY CARES ON CHRIST, WHO CARES FOR ME (1 PETER 5:7)
11. WHY SHOULD I EVER BE IN BONDAGE KNOWING THAT THERE IS LIBERTY WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS (GALATIANS 5:1)
12. WHY SHOULD I FEEL CONDEMNATION WHEN THE BIBLE SAYS I AM NOT CONDEMNED BECAUSE I AM IN CHRIST (ROMANS 8:1)
13. WHY SHOULD I FEEL LONELY WHEN JESUS SAID HE IS WITH ME ALWAYS AND HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME OR FORSAKE ME (MATTHEW 28:20, HEBREWS 13:5)
14. WHY SHOULD I FEEL ACCURSED OR VICTIMIZED WHEN THE BIBE SAYS THAT CHRIST REDEEMED ME FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW THAT I MIGHT RECEIVE HIS SPIRIT (GALATIANS 3:13-14)
15. WHY SHOULD I BE DISCONTENT WHEN I, LIKE PAUL, CAN LEARN TO BE CONTENT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES (PHILIPPIANS 4:11)
16. WHY SHOULD I FEEL WORTHLESS WHEN CHRIST BECAME SIN ON MY BEHALF THAT I MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM (2 CORINTHIANS 5:21)
17. WHY SHOULD I FEEL SELF-CONSCIOUS AND INSECURE KNOWING THAT NO ONE CAN BE AGAINST ME WHEN GOD IS FOR ME (ROMANS 8:31)
18. WHY SHOULD I BE CONFUSED WHEN GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF PEACE AND HE GIVES ME KNOWLEDGE THROUGH HIS INDWELLING SPIRIT (1 CORINTHIANS 14:33)
19. WHY SHOULD I FEEL LIKE A FAILURE WHEN I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST (ROMANS 8:37)
20. WHY SHOULD I BECOME ANXIOUS WHEN I CAN TAKE COURAGE KNOWING THAT JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD AND ITS TRIBULATIONS (JOHN 16:33)

Crystal and I have started reading this today. Will you join us?

~~
twh

PS> Special thanks to Larry Mims who provided the leadership and personal testimony last night for the men. This list was provided by Larry to help all of us reclaim our right relationship with God through scripture.