Years ago, I suffered from depression. In the midst of it, the Lord challenged me with one of the healthiest habits to do every day, found in Psalm 119:164:
Seven times I praise you because of your righteous judgments."
He impressed upon me to get a pretty journal and write down 7 things each day for which I was thankful.
He further challenged me to do it each day for 30 days.
I did it. And by the end of that 30 days, I was happier and more peaceful than I had ever been!
That depression lifted.
If it ever tries to come back, I now know how to resist it with gratitude - one of the healthiest habits.
1 Thing Depressed People have in Common
Science is just catching up with God's word. A psychologist once studied people who suffered from depression and other neurotic disorders.
He discovered that they all had one thing in common.
Can you guess what it was?
They were all fault finders.
They focused on the worst within themselves, in other people, or in their life situations.
However, praise and thankfulness is God's will for His people (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
I believe that many of us who suffer from emotional eating have that depressive "spirit of heaviness" on us.
But Isaiah 61:3 says that God gives us "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."
Think about it: You have to choose to put on clothes every day, don't you? They don't just magically appear on your body!
Gratitude: A Healthiest Habit
So each day, set your heart on praise and thanksgiving, which is one of the healthiest habits. Try it every day for 30 days and see if it doesn't help you on your health journey!
I am sure that you will agree it is the healthiest thing you can do every day.
Please comment if you decide to accept this 30-day challenge. I also recommend that you bookmark this page, plus set an appointment on your phone for 30 days from now.
After those 30 days are complete, please come back and testify in the comments about how it has changed your mental outlook.
Updated 1/29/2022