Question:
Dear brother, I am in need of a great healing. At 53, I am alone, and in trouble. depression. I have not been able to keep employment. After 32 years, my wife divorced me and my children have little to do with me. Can you pray? Will you pray? God bless.
Answer:
Yes, we can and will pray for you. The first, and most important thing is to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Has there been a time in your life when you repented of your sin, and placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, and in Him alone? Acts 3:19 tells us, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
If you are saved, then now is the time to do some accounting as to your faithfulness to God, and get as close to Him as possible. James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” The first thing is have you been baptized since you were saved? Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” That is the first command to obey after we are saved.
There are five things that a Christian needs to do to keep close to God, and to prevent discouragement. First, be a daily Bible reader. There is only one place to get faith, and that is the Bible. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When we get discouraged, it is because our faith is weak, and we have lost sight of the fact that God is still in control. As you read the Bible, you will see how others had to wait on the Lord for years, sometimes, but that God is always faithful, and in control. We have a daily Bible-reading schedule that we would be happy to send you, to get you through the Bible in a year.
The second thing to do is pray every day. If we do not pray, then we will get discouraged. Luke 18:1 says, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” We also have a Prayer List, if you would like one (you can view it on this Web Site), that will give you some ideas as to what the Lord wants us to pray about, and it also has a section where you can record answered prayers in the back.
The third thing you need to be faithful in is church attendance. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” You need the good Bible-preaching and teaching, and the fellowship of other Christians.
The fourth thing is tithing. Financial problems can be the cause of great discouragement and marital trouble. When we do not tithe (give God at least a tenth of our income), then God has to chasten us. Malachi 3:8-10 says, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
The fifth thing is witnessing. Matthew 28:19,20 says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” God cared enough about us to send His Son to die for us. Now, He wants us to care enough about others to tell them what He has also done for them. Discouragement comes when we are focused upon ourselves. God wants us to be focused upon Him, and upon others. Mark 12:30,31 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
So number one is being saved. If you are not saved, please write back. Number two is following the Lord in baptism after you are saved. Number three is beginning to work on those five things that I mentioned. If you will do these things, you will find that the Lord will lift that discouragement. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”