I awoke this morning praying for one friend in particular. Holy Spirit started speaking to me about him and what he needed to do to extract himself from the painful situation he is in right now. As I listened to Holy Spirit I realized the exact same Truth would be a help to another friend I had been praying for last evening. Then I thought a bit more and recognized these principles would also help me with a problem I am facing. Now I admit some times I am a bit slow to get the picture. But, as my old friend would say, “Even a blind squirrel will find an acorn once in a while.”
Some of you are fighting against depression. Others are battling fear or anxiety. Still others are dealing with loneliness. A few are wrestling with the residuals from grief (loss of a marriage; loss of a loved one; loss of a job; loss of self-respect; a broken relationship; etc.). Still others are struggling with overwhelming responsibilities (a needy loved one; too many children; an overly demanding season of work; etc.). For some it is just a dead end job that has no hope of promotion. In each case, the problems seem to go on and on like struggling to walk through endless swamp land with pockets of quick-sand that will suck you under. No matter which way you look you are unable to see anything that looks like a path out of the situation.
Like our many-greats-grandfather, Adam, all of us tend to look around us and find someone other than ourselves to blame for our swamp of unsolvable problems. This always leads to frustration because we have no power to change other people or the nature of our circumstances. We only have the power, in God, to change our own responses. Many times the hyper-spiritual will start praying for miracles. Alas, they seldom occur. God desires for us to live in self-control not from trouble to miracle to trouble again.
HARD NEWS — One broad well travelled path leads deeper and deeper into the swamp. This is the path that revolves around me. It always has me focused on what I feel, what I think, what I want, what is hurting me, what might make me feel good, what I fear, etc.
GOOD NEWS — There are paths OUT OF THE SWAMP !
Path 1. ===> It is not what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out.
The first path is to stop your mouth and mind from pouring out all your complaints and criticisms and begin to speak aloud words of rejoicing and thanks for the very circumstances which are helping you to change. The things that are good and pure, think about them. Stop bad mouthing other people. Take control of your thoughts and your speech.
Path 2. ===> It is meat and drink to your soul to DO the will of your Father.
This is not about going to church meetings or engaging in religious rituals. This is about using the gifts and callings of God in you to actually serve and help other people. Your gift may be as simple as being able to clean a house or as complex as being able to build relationships with seriously handicapped children. Turn off the television and the computer games that fill your soul and time with meaningless drivel. Stop using games or movies or drink or drugs to escape your reality. Start living in reality.
Path 3. ===> Turn to living in the present !
Do not spend time analyzing tomorrow or next week or next year. Do not spend time thinking about either the tragedies or the glories of your past. Live today one moment at a time. You do not need God to tell you what is going to happen in the future. Trust Him to take care of that. You live doing in the next sixty seconds what you are called and empowered to do now.
Path 4. ===> Connect with God.
In this modern world of mobile phones and electronic gadgetry we have a wonderful ability to put on a headset and connect with anyone in the world. Indeed many of us escape reality by continually having some noise pouring into our brains. But it is very important for you to quiet your soul and put on your spiritual headset to connect with God. Make sure that connection is a two way connection: You have two ears and one mouth — listen to God speak to you twice as much as you talk to Him. Get to know all three Persona of God: The Loving Father; The Empowering Holy Spirit; and The Very Human Understanding Jesus who laid down all He was entitled to so that you could become His Brother and part of His Bride.
Path 5. ===> Connect regularly and deeply with someone who loves Jesus and loves you.
We were never intended to live disconnected from other people. As early as Adam, God saw that it was not good for a person to live alone. You need at least one close friend other than the people with whom you may live. Someone you can trust with your deepest secrets. Someone who loves you. Someone who sees that God has a great purpose for you. Someone whom you will allow to speak wisdom to you.
These paths will not make your swamp disappear. But if you follow them, God will empower you to endure what you must endure. And, ultimately God will lead you out of the swamp.
His, thus Yours,
Stuart
His-Family 
Wow, well said. Love you bro
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Great and sound advice.
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Excellent article Stuart, I thoroughly agree 🙂
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Excellent article Stuart, right on track 🙂
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Definitely keeping this one! Well said and as you say…practical!
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