Spirit Of Heaviness

SYMPTOMS
WELCOME TO PASTOR DR. CARLOTTA'S COUNSELING CENTER.

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;" Isaiah 61:3

The symptoms of this strongman include, as this Hub suggests: excessive mourning, (beyond what is considered acceptable, proper, usual, or necessary), sorrow and grief, (a feeling of deep sadness caused by a loss or misfortune), depression, (a psychiatric disorder showing symptoms such as persistent feelings of hopelessness), dejection, (poor concentration, lack of energy, inability to sleep, and, sometimes, suicidal tendencies), despair, (a profound feeling that there is no hope), dejection, (sadness and lack of hope, especially as a result of disappointment), hopelessness, (unable to succeed or improve, or unable to be resolved, helped, or cured), self-pity, (the self-indulgent belief that your life is harder and sadder than everyone else's), loneliness, (feeling sad through being without friends or company), disappointment, (a feeling of sadness or frustration because something was not as good, attractive, or satisfactory as expected, or because something hoped for did not happen) insomnia, (inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when this is a problem that continues over time), inner hurts, (relating to somebody's private feelings or happening in somebody's mind), and bruises, (emotional injury - an injury that is not physical, e.g. hurt feelings or damaged self-esteem.) The spirit of heaviness tries to take our joy of living by loading us down with heaviness. He attempts to move in when we are mourning and keep us in an abnormal state of perpetual grief.


Excessive Mourning Isaiah 61:3
Sorrow-Grief Nehemiah 2:2 Proverbs 15:13

Self-pity Psalm 69:20

Insomnia Nehemiah 2:2

Broken-Heart Psalm 69:20 Proverbs 12:18; 15:3, 13; 18:14 Luke 4:18

Despair-Dejection-Hopelessness II Corinthians 1:8,9

Depression Isaiah 61:3

Suicidal Thoughts Mark 9

Inner Hurts-Torn Spirit Luke 4:18 Proverbs 18:14; 26:22

Heaviness Isaiah 61:3

Roots: "Works of the Flesh" Galations 5:19-21

"By Their fruits Ye Shall know Them" Matt. 7:20

MOURNING/BEREAVEMENT

It is normal and healthy to have a natural period of mourning after the loss of a love one or even a favored possession, job position, boy or girl friend. whenever we lose something which we value highly it takes time to adjust both physical and psychologically to the vacuum that results. But we do not mourn indefinitely. "Grief is a God-given emotion that allows us to empty out the deep feelings that must not be kept inside; but grief if long continued can become a neurotic return to immaturity, and therefore is destructive."

We allow the Comforter to heal the hurt and carry away our grief. 'Surely he hath borne our griefs, carried our sorrows." Isaiah 53:4. We release it to the Lord and go on with life as best as we can.


I've known people who lost a loved one and never got over it. Twenty-five years later they are still mourning the anniversary of the death as though it had just happened. As a result, all kinds of negative things take place in their life. The remaining living members of the family resent taking second place to a dead person.

The physical health of those involved is affected and a spirit of fear usually moves in somewhere along the line. when death is magnified it creates fear! How many times can we recount the details of how someone died without being affected by the whole process, especially if it was excessively violent or morbid?

God's people do not concentrate their attention on death, but on Christ, which is Life. "...but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" Philipians 3;13,14.

Isaiah assures us that God wants to turn our "ashes" or death experiences into something of beauty. He does that when we put on the garment of praise and apply the oil of joy to our aching heart. we know death isn't a happy experience for anyone but, to the believer who view it from the perspective of God's Word, it can still make a positive contribution to his growth process in God.

SELF-PITY/DECADENCE

Self-pity usually results from a selfish motive; we resent the fact that we have been left alone to cope while our loved one is off walking on the streets of gold. Sometimes self-pity sets in because circumstances or friendships have not worked out the way we had designed for them to work. Loneliness strikes us and we are tempted to retreat into a shell and give up. But remember, all of this is not God working in out lifer but the destroyer. Don't let him do it! God has promised to be with us, working out for our good. Romans 8:28. "When thou passed through the waters, I will be with thee." and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee" Isaiah 43:2.

BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS/NO LONGER WHOLE

Death of a relationship leaves one or both parties involved reeling from the after-effects of the hurts. Satan often uses misunderstandings to thrust his fiery darts and cause deep wounds in our spirit and soul. He tries to kill the unity of friends, loved-ones and members of the Body of Christ. Our first response needs to be one of asking forgiveness of God and if possible, the other person involved. Secondly, we must forgive the other person by an act of our will and constantly keep it committed to Christ. We can't afford to go back and play with the details of the problem anymore. We must practice bringing every thought into obedience and think only on the good reports and the pure things. Binding the works of the enemy and walking out forgiveness is a continual process as God does His healing in our spirit by restoring the wholeness we need. it will often take a duration of time before we stop hurting, but we can be assured that we are not holding anger, guilt, unforgiveness or any other thing that might open a door of access to the destroyer.

DEPRESSION/GLOOMINESS

Depression is an epidemic that University of Pennsylvania researcher Martin Seligman estimates costs Americans up to $4 BILLION dollars in lost work and medical bills. it social cost is enormous broken marriages, troubled children, suicide, even homicide. the National Institute of Mental Health says one in every five Americans, 40 million people, have significant symptoms of depression at any one time. About 2.4 million of them suffer severe, clinical depression. Depression is the oldest known psychiatric disorder. but scientist still don't know what causes it, much less why most of its victims are women.

SUICIDE/KILLING YOURSELF

The same schedule, the same disappointments, the same faces, the same noisy children, the same house to clean, the SAME everything. Is there no way out? possibly an automobile accident in which I am fatally injured would give me an escape. what a noble exit! Down, down, down goes the mood until the will is paralyzed. Other strongmen move in and they day comes when everyone is shocked to hear that Sister or Brother so and so committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills! In talking with people who tried to kill themselves, they told me they felt a great heaviness pushing them into the act of attempting suicide.

King Saul was often attacked by depression after the Spirit of God had departed from him. When he couldn't sleep he would call for David to play the beautiful, anointed Psalms of praise to God and the attacks of heaviness would be dispelled. David gained invaluable experience from these episodes that helped him win the victory over depression later in his own life.

PRAISE/ADMIRE

The garment of praise is the most effective deterrent against the spirit of heaviness and its related symptoms of insomnia, depression, loneliness and self-pity. Whenever I have difficulty sleeping I just start praising the Lord. i tell the devil that if he disturbs my sleep he will only give me more time to praise the Lord and pray. I can't lose on that one, can I and the devil soon picks up his toys and leaves! Be aggressive! Don't yield to those dark moods and depressions. Use the Word of God like the sword that it is so slash away at the enemy who is robbing you of the joy, peace and contentment that should be yours as a child of God. When the symptoms of depression start, just loose the Garment of Praise and the Oil of Joy to cover you from head to toe. Allow praises to flow from your thoughts and mouth.

It may require discipline on your part at first but the more you praise God the easier it gets. Use your prayer language. If you haven't received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit make it a priority in your life!

Bind the spirit of heaviness, "Satan, in the Name of Jesus I bind your spirit of heaviness according to Matt. 18:18 that promises, '...whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:' I recognize that you have taken advantage of me. Now I resist you in the Name of Jesus. James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Go in the Name of Jesus and don't bother coming back again!"

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."



Go with God and be Blessed!

Dr Pastor Carlotta Boles
Christian Music | Online Church

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