Required reading
Spiritual Depression by D. M. Lloyd-Jones (available from Amazon) - Read Chapter 1.
My notes and thoughts
Today we begin Spiritual Depression by Lloyd-Jones. In his first chapter he provides a general introduction to the the subject, outlining why spiritual depression is worthy of attention; what it is; and how it may be brought on by a person's temperament, by their physical condition, by a reaction to an exceptional experience, by Satan and by unbelief. Finally Lloyd-Jones briefly looks at the treatment of spiritual depression.
Lloyd-Jones' overview of the treatment for spiritual depression was particularly insightful: 'I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression in a sense is this, that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self...This is the very essence of wisdom in this matter. Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in this life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself? Take those thoughts that come to you the moment you wake up in the morning. You have not originated them, but they start talking to you, they bring back the problems of yesterday, etc. Somebody is talking. Who is talking to you? Your self is talking to you...The essence of this matter is to understand that this self of ours, this other man within us, has got to be handled. Do not listen to him; turn on him; speak to him; condemn him; upbraid him; exhort him; encourage him; remind him of what you know, instead of listening placidly to him and allowing him to drag you down and depress you.' How much trouble do we get into by listening to ourselves rather than making ourselves listen to us?
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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