Overcoming Your Downcast Spirit

This blog comes from Brother Wayne Spivey's sermon today. Brother Wayne has been doing a sermon series called 54 Biblical Ways to Become a Better Person, and this week was sermon number 7. There has been a underlying theme with most of my blogs, emotional wellness and spirituality. I thought his sermon fits right with my blogs...here are his points. (My additional notes/thoughts are in purple.)

1. Rejoice and be glad. ("This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24)

2. Focus on the positive and count your blessings. (Psalms 103:1-5)

3. Get proper rest. (We, as humans, can often get too much sleep which alters our ability to regulate our emotional healthy. The same is true if we get too little sleep.)

4. Do something for someone else. (Often times when we do something good for someone else, our spirits are lifted.)

5. Listen to upbeat, happy music. (KLOVE is probably one of the most uplifting station I listen to in the car. Their slogan is Positive and Encourage: KLOVE. I would have to highly agree, God is definitely at work with KLOVE.)

6. Exercise (or find a hobby that gets you moving). (Your brain does amazing things like when you exercise it sends endorphins through your brain that lift your spirits.)

7. Make up your mind to be happy and enthusiastic. (Abraham Lincoln once said, A man is about as happy as he makes his mind up to be.")

8. Take a little break and do something for yourself. (Taking time to take care of yourself is important. This can be as simple as take a relaxing hot bath, scrapbooking, or playing a round of golf.)

9. Claim the promises of God.

10. Cast your troubles on the Lord. ("Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7)

11. Immerse yourself in the word of God.

Going through the valleys is difficult and often challenging. However, if we cling the the eleven concepts covered above, we can pull out of the valley with God's help! Remember F.R.O.G. (Fully Rely On God)!!!

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you laying all of my burdens at your feet. You know my heart and my heartache. I pray that through the difficult times, I can learn to lean ever more on you. Thank you Lord for the many blessings in my life, and may I always remember to stop and count them. In your Sons name, Amen.