7 Ways Depression Hinders Your Intimacy With God and 5 Proven Strategies For Restoration

Have your prayers become crying sessions that torpedo you with greater despair?

Have you lost sight of God’s infinite love in the onslaught of guilt, shame, and self-condemnation?

Depression is a ruthless thief the demonic kingdom employs to kill, steal, and destroy your intimacy with God and His purpose for your life!

Seven Ways Depression Limits Your Intimacy with God

1. A spirit of dread poisons your thoughts the moment you wake up and plunders your day before you can start.   Dread is breakfast for demons of depression.  It causes your first waking thoughts to overwhelm you with darkness and despair.
2. Depression causes you to feel unworthy of a close relationship with God. The voices of self-condemnation are louder than God’s word in your ears and you begin to agree with the lies.
3. Sadness and Gloominess are the focus of your prayers.  Instead of feeling closer to God in prayer, you felt alienated and abandoned in gloom.
4. Depression hinders your ability to worship.  The devil knows worship will win the war over God’s presence so he will attempt to sabotage your desire to keep you from God.
5. Depression isolates you from church fellowship.  It convinces you to rest and not over extend yourself.
6. Depression keeps you from reading the Word with understanding.  It becomes just an exercise of works without meaning.
7. Depression feeds on the word curses you speak that start with:

“I can’t….”
“I am not….”
“I don’t have…”

Any declarations that begin with “I” and do not line up with what God says about you are lies from the enemy that are intended to steal your identity.

If you recognize any of these tactics meant to steal your intimacy with God then it’s time to take aim!

5 Steps to Restore Your Intimacy with God

1. Capture those early morning thoughts and pray exactly the opposite of what you are first feeling.  If you can discern the tactics of the enemy in advance then, you can be strategic in your assault.   Begin first by declaring the words of Psalm 139 to solidify your identity in your heart and mind and put the demonic kingdom on notice.
2. Invest in a daily devotional that focuses on God’s Presence.  “Jesus Calling” does an exceptional job of redirecting your attention to God’s plan for your life in the midst of challenge.
3. Take one small step at time. Do not let the enemy overwhelm you with the trials of the day.  Understand that as you plan your path, God will order your steps gently.
4. Go to bed each night reading a Psalm. If your last waking thoughts are focused on things that are excellent, praiseworthy, and true, your mind will meditate on that as you sleep and you will not give the enemy a foothold.
5. Make a plan to reconnect with your church or small group.  Isolation leaves you alone with your thoughts.  Wise counselors can provide an alternate view.  You need that view!

These steps will begin to reopen the door of intimacy with God.  He hasn’t left you or abandoned you.  God is waiting for you to return!

If you recognize depression as an ongoing battle in your life, then restoring your intimacy with God is a giant first step!  Step two should be finding a Christian Counselor who can help you identify the roots of the depression and remove this stronghold once and for all.