Friday, October 26, 2007

My Utmost by Doing the Dishes

There is a reason that I am showing you my messy kitchen sink. I'll explain.

While treasure hunting earlier in the week, I was blessed with a copy of "My Utmost for His Highest". While contemplating it's purchase, I flipped to the page for February 17th, and knew I had to buy it. The title for that day is "Taking the Initiative Against Depression". I bought the book.

Many of you don't know that I struggle with depression. I have not always, but after the birth of my 3rd baby I suffered from post-partum depression. Ever since I have had waves of it that come and go. I do not talk about it much, I just give it to God. Many times I have prayed for God to take this depression from me, after reading this article, I won't pray for that anymore. I will pray to have the eyes to see God's inspiration and to obey His leading in doing the most simple and natural things.

February 17 - "Arise and Eat" (1 Kings 19:5)
"The Angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed , we would not be alive-only material things don't suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.
When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God's creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this was is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life".

WOW!

The thing that I am led, instinctively, to do when I am depressed is the dishes. If my kitchen is a mess you know I am having "one of those days". I know in my heart that if I would just do the dishes I would be lifted up. Now I understand. God is telling me what to do, I was just not listening with the right ears.

Praise you Lord for this new understanding. I will listen, I will see, and I will obey. You are such a loving, merciful, and gentle God. I fall on my knees and thank you. I feel set free. Amen.

Have a wonderful day in the Lord. I pray that you are blessed by this revelation, if any of you struggle similarly.

In God's immense love, Tami

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your struggle and God's grace and mercy in the midst of it.

    This part spoke to me most!

    "If, however, we do something simply to overcome depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life".

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  2. My favorite author, Elizabeth Prentiss, says that every act of obedience is also an act of worship. What I love about that idea is that even in our depression we worship.

    Thanks for sharing so honestly.

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  3. Oh Tami, Thank You for this post!!
    You minister to my heart...I shall get my hands on this book! Your friend, Carrie.

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  4. My house becomes very shabby when I get depressed. Yet, I can't find a place to start. Thank you for your post today. I'm sure you've helped many, including me, with this issue.
    amanda

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  5. Thank you ladies for the loving encouragement. It is sometimes hard to know just how much to share. Thank you for making me feel safe in sharing. Blessings, Tami

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  6. wonderful post...I love that entry by O.C...it spoke powerfully to me too! Can't wait to peruse around your blog!! Thanks for reading me! :)

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  7. awwwwwwww, how i don't listen when i comes to housework. you are so right, if we just do it, the peace will come. thank you so much the your inspiration.

    missy

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  8. thank you for sharing your heart...I own this book, I think I may go find it...
    blessings,

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  9. Tami,
    Thank you for being so transparent, here. :) I am so thankful that God gave you fresh understanding. I love that. He is so faithful! And what a blessing that it came through that book, and that you already knew what your act should be-- as opposed to reading that and then thinking, "Okay, Lord... so what is it that I should do, then?" You already knew. :)
    Blessings to you and yours, Tami!
    ~Stacy

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  10. Ijust read this article. I'm struggling with depression right now. My husband has been out of work for 6 months. I'm tired. I'm just tired. I am encouraged by your post about the doing the dishes. I shall listen for what the Lord is whispering to me.


    Thank you!
    Laura of Harvest Lane

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