According to Manufacturer's Instructions

     In today's post I will attempt to address more than one single cause of depression as determined by the World Health Organization and offer insight into how to defeat each one.  Remember that it is of foremost importance that the Word of God be applied to every area of our lives.  His answers are to be found in His Holy Scriptures, which God gave to us as a "game plan" by which we can live our lives abundantly.

     Smoking:  The habit of smoking has been directly to depression. The nicotine contained in cigarettes, cigars, and other forms of tobacco (including chew) negatively affects neurotransmitter activity in the brain and reduces serotonin levels.  There are many researchers who believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression.  Among the multitude of problems that smoking causes in our body, depression and sadness certainly rank high on the list of reasons why we should refrain from this activity.  There can be no doubt (based upon the thousands of research studies that have been done) that smoking is not good for the human body.  It is outside God's will for us, and as long as we remain outside His will, He cannot bless us fully.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

(I Corinthians 6:19-20) 

     This portion of Scripture should be taken seriously by anyone engaging in behavior that is known to cause harm to the temple of the Holy Spirit that is our body.  

     Poor Sleep Habits:  It is only when we are asleep that our brain is given the time it needs to replenish itself.  God created a marvelous, complex machine in the human body.  While it is possible for us to do amazing things under great stress, the time comes when we must relinquish ourselves to the knowledge that sleep is not an option... it is a requirement for us.  Conversely, too much sleep can also become problematic.  

"Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare."

(Proverbs 20:13)

     

      We need to learn to accept sleep as a gift from our Heavenly Father:

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to             

those He loves."

(Psalm 127:2)

     Know that things are right with you and God.  Allow His word to "dwell in you richly."  Nothing disturbs our sleep quite so severely as a guilty conscience or an unsettled spirit within us.  When our priorities are in proper order and our relationship to our Father in Heaven is solid, sleep will come with ease.

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

(Psalm 4:8)

     Lack of fish in the diet:  This may seem a little strange, but fish contains high levels of omega 3 fatty acids, which also regulate neurotransmitters and serotonin levels in the brain.  The American diet (in particular) is poorly balanced overall, saturated with fast foods and convenience items, laden with sugar and artificial sweeteners, loaded with preservatives, and high in the wrong kinds of fats.  However, this does not mean that other countries around the world have been spared from this unhealthy dietary pattern.  Not only is fish good for us, but we might simply ask ourselves a couple of basic questions as we reach for something to eat.  (1) Can I pronounce all of the ingredients contained in this product?  If not, maybe I'd better look for something else to satisfy my hunger.  (2) Was this item grown on a plant or produced in a plant?  If it was grown on a plant, God put it there for our enjoyment.  If it was manufactured in a commercial plant, I should probably leave it alone.

"And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food."

(Genesis 1:29)

     I am not advocating a strictly vegetarian diet here.  Scripture goes on to say,

 "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, 

I give you everything." 

(Genesis 9:3) 

     The point to be made here is that fish and other foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids (such as walnuts, flaxseeds, beans, olive oil, and winter squash) are not only healthy, but essential in order to maintain good health in the human brain.

     To avoid overloading you with too much information at one time, I'll close this post by encouraging those of you who may be struggling with depression to take the Word of God literally and seriously.  When we fail to live according to the "manufacturer's instructions," we will malfunction in one way or another.  

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

(Isaiah 26:3)