Hello beloved child of God, I hope you’re fine by God’s grace.
Today we’re going further in the topic of Depression. Remember we decided to wage war against depression during this Lenten season.
I hope you’ve been noticing some changes by now.
I guess my title looks funny right ? You’ve been used to hearing “Love your neighbor as yourself” but now, I’m telling you to love yourself as you love your neighbor.
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Just follow for a while, and you’ll get my point.
We’re going to start with a little exercise.
Exercise: What Are My Thoughts?
1. Sit down and take your notebook and a pen
2. Relax
3. This is the moment to vent. Write down every single negative thought which you’ve been having against yourself. All those ugly things which you say to yourself in your mind and which make you feel even more hopeless and depressed
For example:
- I’m stupid
- I’m crazy
- I’m such a mess
- I never succeed at anything
- I’m an idiot
- Nobody loves me
- I’m not good enough
- I’m a terrible person
- I’m a loser
Write down all those depressive thoughts.
Now look at what you wrote down and think about your best friend/closest friend/a good friend of yours.
Now ask a question for each negative thought you wrote.
For example let’s say my best friend’s name is Sakina (and it is 😘 by the way).
- Would I ever say to Sakina that she’s stupid? (Absolutely no- by the way she’s super intelligent glory be to God)
- Would I ever say to Flora (replace with the name of a friend) that she’s crazy?
- Would I ever say to Thomas that he’s a loser?
- Do you see where I’m heading to?
Ask this question for every negative thing you said to yourself.
Now notice that you would never say such cruel things to your friends and loved ones, you would never speak like that to your neighbor. Why then do you speak like that to yourself?
Think about it?
You are to love your neighbor as yourself, but how can you love your neighbor if you don’t even love yourself? How can you love yourself less than you love your neighbor?
You have to decide today, that if you wouldn’t speak such negative things over your friends, if you wouldn’t tolerate that such negative things be said to your friends, you should not tolerate that it should be said to yourself, even if it’s in your own mind
It’s not because the thought is in your mind that you have to accept it.
Conclusion
Today, all I want to do is raise awareness, that you should love yourself just as you love your neighbor.
If your best friend came to you saying they’re stupid, crazy, and a failure you would tell them that this is not what God says about them and that those words come from the devil.
Do for yourself what you would do for your friends, tell yourself clearly, “This is not what God says about me, and I refuse to tolerate thoughts which are from the devil“
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, teach me to love myself just as I love my neighbor, showing support, mercy, compassion for myself as I would for them, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
It’s Now Your Turn
Tag your best friend in the comments section and invite them to follow my blog.
Don’t forget to share this blog post on your social media accounts and to invite your friends and family members to join us as we’re waging war against depression. You may save a life by sharing.
If you’ve not done it yet, subscribe to my Newsletter so as not to miss any post on depression and also, make sure to invite anyone whom you know is suffering from depression.
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Also, please consider sharing this blog post on all your social media accounts.
Invitation
Click here if you’re looking for a church. I recommend Elevation Church to you. A wonderful Christ-centered Church in which you aren’t limited by your location and in which you can see what God can do through you.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this blog post please subscribe to my Newsletter so as not to miss any new post.
Also, please consider sharing this blog post on all your social media accounts.
God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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