Christian Living

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Do you ever find yourself sad and troubled from time to time? Have you ever been really depressed even to the point of self-destruction?

Finances and money problems, relationship squabbles and health issues can all get to us from time to time and if we are not well grounded in God's word the Bible and if we are not delighting ourselves in the Lord then we are open to Satanic attacks and fleshly introspections which do not profit our souls. By fleshly introspections I do not mean avoiding the question of asking yourself why you are sad.

By all means ask yourself. Ask yourself why you are feeling so down and out. Ask yourself why you are so sad and depressed but before you consult a psychiatrist or counselor and fork out some serious bucks for that kind of therapy.

Why not do what God has commanded?

What has God commanded in such situations?

Turn to James 5:13 where we read: "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.

Understand this my friend that the best remedy for an afflicted heart is to find a quiet place and pray to God. Confess your many sins to your heavenly father and creator. He knows better than anyone what you are experiencing and going through.

God alone has the wisdom and the power to change your disposition and to change your ways if they are in the wrong path.

Now some people have bought into modern psychology and self-improvement pep talks so much that they feel compelled to listen to their favorite guru and seek to remove altogether that sadness that may be troubling them. They walk over to the mirror and tell themselves what a wonderfully good person they are. The fact is they are a miserable rotten sinner by nature.
Eph 2:1; Rom. 3:23

They perhaps grab the phone and ask a friend out for a drink or somewhere to grab a icecream or other sweet treat. Maybe they've already made provision for the flesh by stocking their pantry with a shelf full of candy, chips or coke for those sad moments when they are in need of some sugar to alter their state.

Prescription drugs are often used unwisely although legally, to alter their sad state and thus mask over a possibly inherent problem which may really be spiritual in nature.

Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.

There is no law against prayer and even if there were we are commanded to obey God rather than men and so we must pray. Luke 18:1 says, "And he spake a parable unto them to end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint."

1 Thess. 5:18 "Pray without ceasing."

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."
Acts 5:29


Prayer involves not just asking God for what we want but prayer is adoring God for who He is.
So here's how to remember what prayer is:

P=Praise Praise God for who He is and what He did on the cross. He was crucified and resurrected for sinners like you.

R=Repent Turn from your sins and have a change of mind about yourself. You may think too highly of yourself when you should humble yourself.

A=Ask When your heart is clean, you can have confidence before God when you ask. As 1 John 3:21-22 says, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight"

Y=Yield Seek to have a soft and pliable heart rather than a stony or hard heart. Pride creates harness of heart. Humility creates a sensitive or sensible heart that feels the pain of others and hates evil.


Sometimes we are in sadness and sometimes we are in happiness. Afflictions should cause us to pray, Not that prayer is to be confined to a time of trouble, nor singing to a time of happiness but these are certainly lawful and appropriate reasons to pray.

The person afflicted must himself pray as well as engage the prayers of others for him. Times of affliction should be bring us to our knees and cause our hearts to cry out to God in time of need. To this end God sends afflictions, that we may be engaged to seek him early; to enquire after him. Prayer is most acceptable to God when it comes from a contrite humble spirit.

Afflictions naturally draw out our petitions to God whose ears are ever tuned to our complaints and to whom should we complain but to God in prayer?

Is any afflicted? Let him pray






Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See his videos on www.YouTube.com. Type in LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at [email protected]

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