Spiritual depression - Lloyd-Jones - VIII - Chapter 8

Required reading

Spiritual Depression by D. M. Lloyd-Jones (available from Amazon) - Read Chapter 8, 'Feelings'. 

My notes and thoughts
Now Lloyd-Jones deals with the subject of feelings and how they can make us spiritually depressed.  After clarifying that affections are important in the Christian faith, Lloyd-Jones makes some general observations about feelings:
(i) Feelings must be engaged;
(ii) We cannot create feelings;
(iii) There is nothing so variable about us as our feelings;
(iv) Experiencing particular feelings does not make us Christians.

Then Lloyd-Jones suggests how we are to deal with the problem of feelings:
(i) If you are depressed, make certain there is no obvious cause, e.g. a certain sin;
(ii) Avoid the mistake of concentrating overmuch upon your feelings;
(iii) Recognise the difference between rejoicing and feeling happy;
(iv) Stir yourself up by believing. 

I liked how we were taught not to seek feelings but instead to seek holiness and then the happiness takes care of itself: 'Do not go on seeking thrills; seek righteousness.  Turn to yourself, turn to your feelings and say: "I have no time to worry about feelings, I am interested in something else.  I want to be happy but still more I want to be righteous, I want to be hoy.  I want to be like my Lord, I want to live in this world as He lived, I want to walk through it as He walked through it."...Seek happiness and you will never find it, seek righteousness and you will discover you are happy -  it will be there without your knowing it, without your seeking it.'  All to often we seek happiness at the expense of righteousness and do not find it. 

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.