Victory Over DepressionSample

How to Get Better Faster: Developing Your System 

In order to have victory in any area, including victory over depression, you are going to need to develop a system for success. Without a system, you may feel overwhelmed and struggle to succeed. Let’s talk about a winning system. I use the human body as an analogy to help us understand what we are going to be doing. The human body starts with the bare bones, then add muscles which connect to the bones with ligaments and tendons. Next, the vessels, arteries and veins, as well as the nerves, contribute to overall function of the body. On the very top is the skin.

King Solomon was the wisest and richest man that ever lived. And he had a system. Yes, there were times he fell into despair, despite those riches, but again he was able to return to the system that he had learned from none other than his father, King David. King David helped build King Solomon up as a child, layer by layer. Meditating on scripture and mindful prayer are the basic building blocks, such as what every cell in your body is made of. We see several times in scripture that both King David and King Solomon spent time focused on God’s word.

Every part of the body is made up of building blocks, but the scaffold on which every other part of the body is fastened is the skeleton. King Solomon’s “skeleton” began with his belief system. His name, Jedidiah, indicated that he was “loved by God.” Others also spoke lovingly over him and encouraged him. If you have others who can encourage you, add them to your system. If not, do a “love” word study from scripture and learn more about how you also are loved by God. 

King Solomon also surrounded himself by people of wisdom and followed their instructions, particularly as a child. These were the “muscles” of his system. He had to learn to flex these muscles on his own as he grew, getting creative at times when a solution to his problem did not immediately present itself. 

The vasculature, or vessels, to any system are the things that carry everything we need to live, like oxygen and nutrients, but need to be modified based on the individual. Life giving principles such as making self-care a priority, routine exercise, and healthy eating are all a part of a healthy system. Like the skin we live in, we need to be prepared for the elements and protect ourselves from harmful influences. Let’s not forget the power of our environment, including media and music. Both have the power to be uplifting or toxic to our souls. All of the above items from scripture meditation to healthy eating will become a part of the system that helps you get and stay healthy.