WATCHWORD:
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:10-14a.
16He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. Psalm 18:16-17
Meditation:
Gloom, Despair, and Agony
Do you remember Buck Owens and Roy Clark from Hee Haw, and this little number?
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
We figured she was rich, loaded to the hilt
And we figured she had class like a Vanderbilt
‘Cause we had heard for years how she was so well-reared
How was we to know they meant the way that she was built
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Some of the Hee Haw shows were hilarious, often bordering on censor-able. There are a lot of verses in this number that do not belong in any devotional, but you get the point.
Humor plays an important role in our lives. Without humor and our faith in Christ, we could sink to the depths of ‘gloom, despair and agony’. There were times when I felt I was in a pit during those of the pandemic, a very real, and painful experience where you had to trust in the Lord with only brief contacts with the outside world to keep sanity in place.
The truth is that in living our lives we occasionally slip into depression, worry, and uncertainty. Gloom, despair and agony flows from from fear, often because we doubt, and our trust in the Almighty waivers. Some of those negative thoughts are often future-based, worrying about what’s going to happen next. Sometimes it’s about what has already happened, and the aftermath continues to plague us. Some people show emotion, are quick to anger, or become extremely passive, taking on a ‘Who cares?’ attitude.
This is a very real issue that we need to be aware of in ourselves, and in our conversations with friends and family. We can play a very real part in reaching out to those who seem to be suffering. Phone calls or visits can mitigate some of these feelings. Valuing friendships carries such positive effects, that we should never under-estimate it’s worth.
Here are Stan’s tips for better mental health:
- Limit watching news. Check out positive pod-casts, or programming: TBN, documentaries, Doctor Pol. Whatever makes you smile.
- Focus on things you love in your life — share those thoughts with others, socializing will help.
- Take a walk in nature. Talk to the trees, I know it works, because the Bible tells us the trees listen and clap their hands!
- Exercise. Even if it is just a short walk, and smile at the people you meet.
- Talk to God all the time. Doesn’t have to be a formal prayer, just talk. People may think you’re crazy, and that, alone, should make you smile. God does.
This is serious business. My daughter often tells me to “take care of business” and by that she means being good to others and myself. Make it a point to contact friends and family with some regularity. It’s good advice, but, I confess, I am not good at following it all the time, but I can pass it on!
More Good Thoughts:
It should be noted that laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body.
It is a medical fact that laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. All good things.
Need a laugh? Try these –
- I can’t take my dog to the park because the ducks keep trying to bite him. I guess that’s what I get for getting a pure ‘bread’ dog.
- The 5th to the 10th centuries were called the Dark Ages? Why? Because there were lots of knights.
- What did Mr. and Mrs. Hamburger name their daughter? Patty!
Well, I tried…
Morning Prayers:
Dear God, I come to You in total expectation of the best. I believe in miracles because I believe in You. I cooperate with You by holding in my human mind the very best outcome. I do not come to You in desperation, but in gratitude and excitement of the result given to me ahead of any need. I live my days in prayer and my days bless me. I go to You first each day to prepare my human mind for the blessed life. I live my moments, day by day, in positive expectation and overflowing gratitude as I witness and take part in the miraculous results. I believe that spiritual power is the most important activity that I can take part in. I give myself to it, and it gives its power to me. I am grateful and thankful for every moment spent in prayer. In Jesus Christ’s name … Amen.
