Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 18 (Finding Perfect Peace, Part 10, “World’s Most Unpopular Antidepressant!”)
By admin On February 16th, 2021.
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Daily Devotional, Year 3 – August 18
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Finding Perfect Peace,
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Part 10,
“World’s Most Unpopular Antidepressant!”
To read Part 1, click here…March 6th (How To Find Perfect Peace!)
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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times!”
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Seldom have truer words been spoken by the world’s philosophers than these above words by “Tale of Two Cities” author, Charles Dickens!
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Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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HALF AND HALF
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Yes, in this world, there are many who are enjoying themselves.
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And yet, there are many others who are suffering for one reason or another.
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You could perhaps say that half the world is wearing a smile, while the other half are wearing a sad expression!
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Indeed, it is the best of times for some, and the worst of times for others!
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James Tissot – A Woman of Ambition – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
Weeping Woman – Van Gogh – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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HALF THE WORLD IS SUFFERING
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While half the world is enjoying their health, their family, their friends, and perhaps even their good fortune, the other half are pressed down beneath the weight of mis-fortune of one type or another.
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Maybe some illness, or old age, or tragedy, or love lost, or countless other unhappy circumstances have taken the joy out of life for these unfortunate individuals. Maybe a combination of unhappy things has turned life’s dark and cloudy side upon them.
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For these suffering ones, it is the worst of times!
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Woman applying make-up – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License 2.0
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MAN’S CURES
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Now there are many who, when facing unhappiness will turn to drugs, alcohol, or antidepressants in hopes of getting out of the proverbial ditch they seem to have fallen into.
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But are drugs and antidepressants what these people really need? Are antidepressants actually going to make a person happy?
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Certainly there have been studies which indicate that some antidepressants cause certain users to even entertain suicidal thoughts at times! How can that be good?
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A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
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Now there are other unhappy ones who decide to turn their life course in a new direction.
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Maybe they join a jogging club and begin eating a healthy diet.
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Others might decide to volunteer in some humanitarian
organization.
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Still others may decide to ratchet up their social life.
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Marathon – New York – cropped image – Wikipedia – Share-alike Lic.
Fruit Cocktail – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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A SUPERIOR ANTIDEPRESSANT
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But this devotional is here to proclaim that there exists an antidepressant which is far more effective 
and long-lasting than any man-made substance!
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And just what kind of antidepressant is so superior to all other antidepressants?
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Well, truth-be-told, this antidepressant is revealed in various places in the Bible, such as in Isaiah 26:3…“Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace who mind is stayed upon Thee, because he trusts in Thee!”
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Now just what type of man-made antidepressant can produce this kind of result?
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Imagine! Perfect peace!
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Woman with Bible – Braet von Überfeldt – 1866 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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A SUPERFICIAL RELIGIOSITY IS WORTHLESS
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Oh yes, there are many suffering individuals who will go as far as attending some lively church fellowship in an effort to get their lives back on some sort of “even keel”.
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They begin attending weekly services. They may even get involved in some church office or ministry.
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But this verse from Isaiah 26:3 reveals that true perfect peace is only found in keeping one’s thoughts fixed on Jesus (through Bible study and unceasing prayer and constant contemplating of the Bible, via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.)
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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain
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“GO AND SELL THAT YOU HAST…AND COME AND FOLLOW ME”
Matthew 19:21
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But who wants to give up their selfish ways? Not very many! That’s for sure!
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Yes, it’s true! Christianity, if it is genuine, requires one to renounce and forsake this selfish and fallen world, and begin following Jesus as one of His disciples!
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Listen…“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33
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Here, Jesus is making clear the dividing line between true and false discipleship.
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To give up this selfish world is required to become a true disciple, as this above verse reveals.
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Jesus Calls Disciples – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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A SAD AND TRAGIC WORLD
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But why does this sad world think that selfishness is the key to happiness?
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After all, has selfishness ever brought true love, joy, and peace to this tragic and sorrowful world?
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Just look at how badly things are going down here!
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This world is going through all sorts of hell and heartaches! Wars, bombings, beheadings, broken hearts, disease, death, murder, suicide, divorce, crime, pornography, kidnappings, slavery, oppression, mob rule, thefts, greed, lust, violence, jealousy, suspicion, pain, joblessness, hunger, starvation, sadness, loneliness, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, hopelessness, failure, and on and on the list goes!
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Boston marathon bombing – Wikipedia – Creative-Commons-2.0
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IT’S THE BEST OF TIMES FOR SOME
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Oh yes, there are those who are currently enjoying themselves.
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The young, the strong, the healthy, the wealthy, the clever, the gifted, the beautiful, the honored, the revered: for these privileged ones, the world is their oyster!
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And society is their playground!
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For them, it is the best of times!
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And so, while selfishness offers many immediate rewards, nevertheless, all in all, it’s a very sad and tragic world!
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Castle of Disney – Wikipedia – Public Dom
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CASTLES OF SAND EVENTUALLY WASH AWAY
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And even those of us who may be presently enjoying our lives in this world have no guarantee that riches and good fortune will remain.
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No, like the proverbial castle made of sand, a giant wave of adversity is sure to eventually come along and wash away our “charmed life”, casting all of us into the same lot as the other half of humanity who are suffering.
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Sand castle, Cannon Beach – by Curt Smith – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-alike License.
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“TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON”
Hebrews 11:25
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But the fact is, there is no pill or potion or palliate or elixir which can bring true lasting peace and joy!
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Oh well yes, there are substances which give relief for a few hours.
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But after their effects wear off, the suffering will most likely return to us, often with a vengeance!
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Highbrow drunkard – cropped image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike License
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“THOU SHALL MAKE THEM DRINK OF THE RIVER OF THY PLEASURES”
Psalm 36:8
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But God offers His “antidepressant” which brings peace and contentment and joy like an ever-flowing river!
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In other words, that heavenly peace continually flows through the recipient!
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River of Water of Life – H. Melville – Wikimedia – US Public Domain
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“AT THE RIGHT HAND (O LORD) ARE PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE!”
Psalm 16:11
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But the remarkable thing is, that such an everlasting cure for sadness and suffering is mostly despised and rejected by almost the entire world!
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Hardly any takers!
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Only a chosen few ever receive that everlasting love, joy, and peace!
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Anti-Christian rally in Chicago – cropped image – Wikimedia
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GOOD NEWS!
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But the Good News is, that this heavenly “antidepr
essant” is still available to one and to all!
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Yes, our heavenly “Pharmacist” still stretches forth His nail-pierced hands and calls to all… “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
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So those of us who are carrying a heavy burden are invited to take Christ’s cure-all and find that peace and rest unto our souls!
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And such an antidepressant as this will never ever wear off!
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Munch Det Syke Barn – 1896 – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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NO LONGER THE WORST OF TIMES!
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And once that truly saved individual finds that promised peace which surpasses all understanding, he or she can answer back to Charles Dickens, saying, “It is now the best of times, and no more the worst of times.
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It is now the age of wisdom, and no more the age of foolishness!
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It is now the epoch of belief, and no more the epoch of incredulity!
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It is now the season of Light, and no more the season of darkness!
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It is now the spring of hope, and no more the winter of despair!
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I am now going direct to Heaven, and no more going direct the other way!”
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Holy Bible – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Lic.
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TO READ PART 11, CLICK HERE…
April 26 (Finding Perfect Peace, Part 11, “Why Did God Take Away My Spouse?”)
Vincent van Gogh – Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity) – Wikipedia – US Public Domain
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TODAY’S PRAYER…
“Dear Lord, Help me to find that peace that surpasses all understanding…
Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read…November 23 – (No Rest Unto The Wicked), or you may also read…October 4th (The Revelation of Jesus, Part 2: Perfect Peace!)
Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license
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THE END
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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN
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FLOWER OF THE FIELD CONSTELLATION…
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LOCATING THIS CONSTELLATION…
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This constellation group can best be seen in spring through summer in the southern sky just above the horizon. Like all constellations, it slowly moves westward through the months, appearing a little earlier each night. It also appears to move through the sky westward each night. It can be easily seen under any degree of darkness. In other words, you don’t need a very dark night. In the sketch to the right, the ‘Flower of the Field’ Constellation `is in the lower part of the screen, directly under the Cross/Scepter Constellation. The sketches in this site are approximate, and not 100% accurate. The individual stars have different brightness than seen here. But these sketches are close enough in order to find them in the night sky.
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This constellation presents one of the most beautiful verses in Scripture. And yet that Scripture presents one of the most repugnant concepts (which unsaved Mankind has tried to elude for millenniums). And that concept is, that Mankind is like the grass that withers, and his glory as the wildflower that fades away. But God’s Word and those that love it will go on forever and ever!
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READ MORE…
To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Flower of the Field Constellation”
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TOMORROW:
August 19 (Image of the Beast, Part 5: “Framing Mischief By A Law!”)
Government Censorship – Wikimedia – Public Domain
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20+ MINUTE AUDIO JEREMIAH STUDY
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ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.
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THIS IS STUDY #228 PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING…
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Those who are interested in using photos on this page may click on provided link below each photo, to get to Wikimedia Commons for various licensing details & tags, and all other necessary information on any particular photo. Most tall, narrow photos have been cropped or reduced by this website to make them a better fit on phone screens.