1. Go to your health professional to determine if you have an actual health deficiency such as anemia, high blood pressure, heart problems, cancer, etc. Remember: (if you are diagnosed with depression), depression is not an illness in and of itself.  It's important to get to the root of the problem. However, depression is often treated with drugs that may have serious side effects, when there may be other issues to consider. 
   
2. Even if there is a health deficiency you will now need to apply some discipline in your life for your overall health. Do the following to please the Lord and according to your physical ability:
    
   a. Seek God FIRST upon arising. Offer yourself to Him to change your thinking. Use Romans 12:1-2 as the promise for this. Then trust He will do it.
    
   b. Drink a MINIMUM of eight glasses of good water every day.
    
   c. Eat nourishing food…lots of fresh fruits and vegetables…at regular times.
    
     d. Exercise on a regular basis…preferably outdoors.
    
     e. Breathe deep of the fresh air…thanking God for the privilege.
   f. Get into the sunshine…open up the windows…lift the shades…go outside.
    
   g. Be faithful and diligent in getting 7 – 8 hours of sleep every night. Regulate your ‘going to bed’ time and your ‘getting up’ time. Work at keeping it the same on a continuous basis. This is vital.
    
   
3. Ask someone you know and trust to help you plan and monitor your schedule until it becomes a habit. That’s what Christian helpers are for. (see Hebrews 10:24) God Himself plans and schedules and you are created in His image. God requires that you order your life so there will be no time for self-pity.
    
   
4. Recognize factors that feed depression and stay away from them: (see Hebrews 5:14)
    
   

   a. nursing a grudge b. self-pity c. gripe sessions

   d. brooding e. over-eating f. refusal to eat

   g. bitterness h. despair i. envy

   j. sleep loss k. procrastination l. any life dominating sin e.g. drugs, alcohol, sexual perversion, etc.

   (The subject of life dominating sins will be covered in another lesson.)
   

5. Make a list of all the things you know you ought to do but haven’t done because you haven’t felt like it, e.g. read your Bible, do the ironing, clean the house, etc. Get to work doing them for the following reasons:
   
   a. To please God (see Colossians 3:23)
    
   b. Because it needs doing. Don’t put it off to a more convenient time.
    
   c. To help others who are depending on you e.g. spouse, boss, children, etc.
    
   
6. DO NOT FEAR or concern yourself about the future. Avoid further depression in the same way you handled the present situation:
    
   a. By doing whatever God requires in any low period of your life whether you feel like it or not.
    
   b. Schedule your life and stick to it no matter how you feel. (See James 1:22-25)
    
   
7. Pay particular attention to the following on a daily basis:
   a. Pray faithfully. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
    
   b. Confess your sins to the Lord and to those against whom you have sinned. (1 John 1:9; James 5:16)
    
     c. Be diligent in the study, meditation and memorization of God’s Word. (Psalm 119:11)
    
     d. Stay in regular fellowship with Godly believers (Hebrews 10:23-25)
    
   e. As a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, minister to others consistently. (1 Peter 4:8-10)
    

I put on the whole armor of God (do this by applying the previous lesson on the armor according to Ephesians 6:10-18). I submit my body as a living sacrifice and renew my mind by the living Word of God in order that I may prove that the will of God is good, acceptable and perfect. I ask these things and thank You that you have provided them in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."