Set mind & heart . . . .

Colossians 3:1-2 ESV
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Melancholy, especially chronic melancholy is a strange affliction.  One mo,emt things are relatively fine and the next momemt the melancholy raises its ugly head and smacks you into the dirt.  It is a most unpleasant occurrence.   One never knows when it will strike and determining why can be difficult.

If we accept that there is a neurochemical component to the affliction then the sudden attack can be due to some shift in the chemical balance.  But we do not want to lay all of the blame on some mysterious chemical Russian roulette.  We, our minds and hearts, play a powerful role in this affliction as well.

One of the more simple causes of these sudden drops has much to do with what we have set our minds and hears on.  We have all heard the phrase, "I really had my heart set on ......."  When we set out hearts and or minds on something we have to accept that we may have set ourselves up for a drop, for a deep bout of melancholy.  Therefore, it is important that we guard our minds and hearts from being set on anything that can disappoint.

This does not mean we don't desire things - ever.  But it does mean that we have to moderate the strength of our desires for anything in or of the world.  This means we have to take responsibility and do the hard work of examining exactly what we have set our minds and/or hearts on and to what degree.  When we fail to do this we can expect a drop.

I have been looking for a new job.  We need more income and frankly working nights is getting tougher.  I had submitted two applications for two jobs for, which I believe my skills and experience make me a viable candidate.  One job looks very positive the other is still up in the air.  I received a call from the very positive job today for a second interview and found myself dropping into, that dark place.  Wondering why I! examined my heart and mind and realized I had set my mind and heart on the other job to a greater degree than I had thought even though they have only read my resume and have not offered an interview.  Oh sure, it's a better job and a greater challenge but the mere fact that a call from positive job cast me down made me very suspicious of the set of my mind and heart.

We are admonished to set our mind and heart on things above, and not things below, for a very good reason.  Things above are promised and guaranteed. They are bought and paid for.  Things below, not so much.  One reason that we should not set our hearts on things in and of this world is because they are entagled in that great web of fallenness that so corrupts the whole world.  We are no match for the world, the flesh and the devil, at least not on our own.  We are not capaple of navigating the maze of deceit that works in this world.  And besides, this is all passing away.

We have a great promise concerning ourmhearts and minds;


Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When we earnestly and consistantly pray concernining our needs, desires and concerns (what we set our minds and hearts on) we have the promise of the peace of God.  And this is not mellow sence of well being type of peace.  It is an active and dynamic peace.  It guards our hearts and minds.  It works in us to keep us safe and away from setting our minds and hearts awry.  This is a promise we need to grab hold of and hold so tightly is squeals!  Let God know about everything that concerns your mind and heart and He will guard it!

Melancholy is a mean and nasty affliction.  It seems to abate only to blindside us.  But where we have set our minds and hearts has a lot to do, with its power in our lives.  Our prayer thoughts and life can have a powerful effect upon hooften and how hard it hits us.  Where we have set our minds and nearts plays a powerful role in how and where it hits us.  A key to avoiding these blindside injuries is to work diligently  to keep, our minds and hearts set on things above and to set our concerns and desires above as well.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I have always loved this verse.  It has never ceased to be a source of encouragement and blessing to me as I deal with the day to day issues that surround the melancholy from which I suffer.  But ya know, though it is a great passage it has to be understood within the individual context of our  circumstances for its value to be truly appreciated.

The first thing we need to reflect upon is exactly how God is merciful to us in our affliction.  Of course, the big thing is that it could always be worse than it is or it could be a different and more crippling affliction.  We never understand this until we actually consider the possibility of a greater and more difficult affliction.  I really believe that each persons afflicton is tailor made for their maturity, ability and need.  There are no purposeless afflictions.  Nor are they arbitrary or random.  They are individual and specific to each of us.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Though our " temptation" or more accurately "trial" can be listed in a plethora of trials available, OUR trial is specific to US.  As there are no cooky - cutter blessing and no recipes for endurance, there are no cooky - cutter afflictions.  Each and every affliction is specific to the individual facing it.  Each affliction is "special."

Trials are common to all men but our trial is our trial.  It is packed in with all our "baggage" which gives it that unique flavor.  Because of this a lot of the "encouragement" we're offered sounds terribly hollow.  People lovingly seek to encourage us and it is a kindness but we always have the , "Yes, BUT....." in the back of our minds.  It is, I believe, true that,  " Nobody knows the trouble I've seen, nobody knows but Jesus."  They may have had a similar experience but MY trouble is MY trouble.  Yes?????

We need to own our trials and know them as well as possible.  They need to be prayerfully examined and not just accepted on face value.  As we examine them we will see the dynamic of the trial...the components and secondary causes and we can then pray with greater wisdom and insight concerning them.  Trust me, ignorant prayers, though acceptable, are not nearly as useful as prayer born out of deep and meaningful reflection.  Especially concerning the trials and afflictions we face.

We do so need wisdom in affliction and we are promised that His wisdom is available for the asking.  BUT when we ask we need to purpose to use it!  It does us no good to ask and receive if we do not plan to do the wisdom work. That means we have to sit down, perhaps with pen and paper, and really consider our affliction within the context of our redemption and our abiding sin.  I fear that this is the only way we can gain a solid and meaningful understanding and  appreciation of the circumstances we find ourselves in.  It ain't magical folks, it all takes our cooperator with the work of the Holy Spirit.  This isn't about "works" but it is about "work."
I'm not done with this passage but will end this at this point to allow you time to prayerfully consider what has been offered here.  I pray that you will grow in knowledge, understanding and appreciation of all God has done, is doing and will do in your life that it will glorify His name and bring peace to your soul.

Michael

Melancholy - Moving Forward 020614

I hope you've gotten a better appreciation for the soul affliction of melacholy.  Whether you suffer it yourself or know someone who does it is a tough  thing to deal with.  But God is faithful and He will not let us face trials that we can not bear.  I know that sounds hollow, but it's true.

One key to our spiritual life when the affliction of melacholy is present is to keep it simple.  Pray simply.  Read the Word simply.  It is not  time to try for lofty heights or profoound depths of sirituality.  It is time for rest and trust and, well, simplicity.

I often simply pray the Model Prayer or the 23rd Psalm or another Psalm that toouches my need.  I often simly read Pslams of Proverbs to take in what spiritual nourishment I can.  As an old Puritain once wrote, "Do it s you are able in order to do it better."  Be gentle with yourself.

One thing to remember is that our feelings are twisted up by the affliction.  We have to really work to remember thaat what is true is true regardless of how we feel.  I've found that quoting (reading) passages of assurance like those found in Eph. and Rom. can make a real difference.  I just read them over and over not like a chant but to fix my mind and keep it from wandering to the worries melacholy brings with it.

If you are involved with someone struggling  melancholy you have a powerful ministry to be about.  Tenderness, patience and taking care of yourself are critical.  You can not "fix" it but you can be a source of comfort and encouragment.  It will take a lot out of you but God will supply your need.  You will at times, feel helpless and hopeless yourself and the things I've mentioned above will benefit you as well.

Perhaps the gretest thing you can do is to pray for and with your friend of family member.  Pray scripture with them, pray comfort for them, pray piece for them.  They are not defective they are afflicted.  One friend descibes their depression as a bad case of the ful that never ends.

I haven't mentioned medications yet but I need to.  My motto is, "Trust God and take your medications."  God in His providence has provided some wonderful treatments for melacholy and we would be foolish to not take advantage of them.  You want to be on the right med' that allows you to engage and address the melacholy.  I tell those I minister to, "You are not responsible FOR your melacholy but you must be responsible IN it."

The med's don'c cure anything but they do alleviate the melancholy so that we may, to one degrree or another, function responsibly. Remember the quote above, "Do it as you can......"  That's what you want your med's to do.

I'll revisit melancholy form time to time and am still open to questions and dialogue but that's about it for now - I'm "Doing it as I can........"

My prayers are with the melachoy and those who care or them.  You are not alone no mattter how alone you feel.  God is certainly with you and you are in the hearts and minds of many many others who suffer as you do.

May God lead you to the warmth and light of His grace more and more, day by day.

Michael

Melancholy 020214 Faithfulness

Most times all I've got to offer to Him is faithfulness
Obedience
I don't have joy,  exuberant praise, just obedience

And sometimes it's just obedience becasue obedience is expected

I don't believe that faithfulness demands any special "feelings."
I just demands the doing of it.

And our obedience needs to be simple and honest

He calls us to pray - so we pray
We don't have to pray well
We just have to pray
We bring - prayerfully - whatever we've got
But we bring it faithfully

He calls us to study His word
So we do
It may be a little hollow
We may not feel inspired
But we need to obediently feed upon it
So the Hoy Spirit can work it into our minds and hearts

He calls us to worship
Individual and corporate
So we do
However  can
We do

All I have to offer Him
Is a crippled and staggering faithfulness
Sometimes I walk
Sometimes I crawl
In seeking to faithfully follow

Some He  calles to great things (as man estimates them)
Others He calls to small simply things
But He calls all of His
To be faithful
In what he has given them

The widow gave all she had
What do we have to give
Sometimes it's just faithfulness
In the simple and quiet things

Pray to simply be faithful
And then be faithful in those simple things
We're all called to it
Wherever we are
With whatever we have
However we can

In my affliction
All I can offer Him
Is my faithfulness
And sometimes even that is hard
Most times it's all I have

MS

The Hell of Melacholy- BUT blessed 020114 14:00

I do nof feel joy
But I know I have reason to

I do not feel loved
But I know I am

I do not feel close to Him
But I know He is close to me

I do not feel the Holy Spirit
But I know He indwells me

I do not feel most of the things
The Word says are ours
But that does not make them any less mine

I don't think they are mine
I know they are
With a real solid knowling

I am blessed
Not to be confused with happy
But blessed
Blessed as in not cursed

I am afflicted and blessed
I find blessing in the affliction

I see the tear before it"s shed
I see the sadness under the smile
I here the cacaphony beneath the harmony
I feel the fear in words of courage

My affliction makes me hard to fool
About what you are feeling
Or not
And then
I can pray for you
Pray well for you

And

If He so desires
I'm here
Not surprised by
Your afflcition but ready to embrace
It and you

And

Be very very quiet
And very very still
Together

The Hell of Melancholy 013114 PM

Survived nother day.
Hope hurting.
Truth reassuring.

What do you do when what yoou feel so overwhelms what youo know?
Trusting God in a cold dark place is tough.
But we do.
Or at least we want to.

You can only sit very still
And very quiet
Hoping to hear
Hoping for the call
Or the knock on the door
Of God's providence
Blessed relief

Your mind wants to race
Your heart pounds
You are tempted to rail and complain
But you sit
Very quiet
And
Very still
Waiting

Confidence
And fear
Battle in your heart
And mind

You think of all those
His providence has rescued
And you battle
The sence
That you are not to be one of them

So you wait
Very quiet
And very still
For Him

Knowing His will is best
Pleading to have the strength
To be faithful
To be wholy trusting
To not be terrified

You survive another day.
Praise God
Very quietly
And very still.

The Hell of Melacholy

I'll make no pretense at pretty words and no effort to edit this.  Today I am in the hell of melacholy.

It's a tough place to be as many many of you know.  It's cold and dark and the sense of utter isolation is terrifying.  But at's not the worst of it.

The worst of it is the utter obsession with one's self.  I've found that all my prayers, all my thoughts, all my cries are about me---my---mine.  what I have not and what I want -- what  need and the overwhelming sense of those needs.

But the hell is this - imagine someone unwashed, smelly, curled in a ball in a dark corner whinning for help.  Unable and unwilling to do anything for themselves.   Not knowing what to do and believing that no matter what they do it won't matter.

Now imagine that's you.  That's how you see yourself and that's how you fear others will see you.  You're pathetic and weak.  An object of scorn and rejection.  That's how you see you and how you sense others would see you if you let them.

Melacholy, for me, is like being sucked under by quicksand but not wanting to bother anyone or ask for help becasue they'll just find you wimpy and irritating.

You want to do something but you just know it will fail.  You sense your responsibility for at least part of your circumstnces and it feels like it's all your fault.  You know better than anyone else ever could how you've contributed to where you are at and it feel like you and you alone are onky to blame.

Yes, you may even want to be dead - but them you sense that you're already dead - just unburied.  You see sense no purpose for your life and yet you fight to find one.

Hanging on by the skin of your teeth is a very appropriate way to see it.  but them comes the sense that there's nothing to hold on to.

OK - don"t freak.  Anyne who has been on the hell of melacholy has thought avbout ending it all.  You really can't avoid those thoughts.  But fortunately, for most of us, even that seems purposeless.

You identify so closely with the lepers in the Bible.  Regardless of the pity, encouragement, etc. Others ffer, you are still a leper - unclean - unfit - to be avoided.

When in the depth of melacholy even the most genuine act of kindness hurts.  You're ashamed to need it - you're ashamed to accept it - you're ashamed - completely.

I'll quit now - rant over - but probably more to come.  There is a very real hell and then there's the hell of melacholy -

Have I touched something in you?  Wanna talk?  Wanna share the rant ith others?  Feel free -- contact me at sheepdog.ms@gmail.com.

I plan to continue to try to say all that we folks afflicted with melacholy want to say but never do - or if we do it's not understood.  Like - I was late starting my day today, my safe routine was ruptured and I felk myself sinking deeper - just 30 minutes crushed me - that's melacholy.

It's a blessing too though - without it I would never has seen just how self-serving and self-seeking and selfish my heart can really be.

Prayers are welcome - comments too --------

Best regards -
Michael