The New Bible Cure for Depression & Anxiety by Md Don Colbert Read Free Book Online

in anxiety. He typically has a rigid set of rules about what should , must , or ought to be done, and he tries to put people and events into his little box. His expectations are unrealistic because he has no control over circumstances or other people.
    The more unrealistic and unenforceable the rules are, the greater his disappointment. That disappointment usually plays out as worry, frustration, irritation, guilt, depression, or anxiety.
    An example of this type of thinking includes: “They should stop driving so recklessly and should stop cutting me off in traffic.” If you struggle with this thought pattern, you expect that people should do certain things, society should act a particular way, or situations should always turn out in an expected fashion. However, life is not fair, and people and situations will eventually let you down. This mind-set will keep you uptight, frustrated, angry, bitter, and eventually will lead to depression and/or anxiety.
    The healthy thinker knows that the only should statement a person needs to make is: “I should practice mercy, which is forgiveness.” People and situations usually don’t turn out the way we want them to turn out. Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” In other words, when I practice giving mercy instead of unenforceable rules, I will receive mercy.
    It reminds me of the musical Les Misérables . Jean Valjean was put in prison for stealing a loaf of bread and served many years. He eventually got out of prison and stole some expensive candlesticks and other expensive items from a priest’s home. When he was arrested and taken to the priest’s home, even though Jean had stolen the priest’s items, the priest forgave him and told the authorities he had given the items to Jean. The gift of mercy was so great that Jean devoted the rest of his life to doing good.
    Confession from God’s Word
    I release all unenforceable rules; instead I will love and show mercy to everyone I come in contact with and overlook how I think they should act or behave. Love keeps no record of wrong, so I throw out my record-keeping book.
    I eliminate should statements from my vocabulary and replace them with “I prefer” and “I would like to.” I cast down should statements and bring them into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
    7. Labeling
    The old adage of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is absolutely false. Words can hurt emotionally and create a belief system that leads to depression and anxiety.
    Just as we pull weeds in a garden, we need to pull these words out and eliminate them from our vocabulary. Examples of common labels we use for ourselves or others include idiot, jerk, loser, klutz, failure, nerd, stupid, pitiful, pathetic, moron, and so on. I commonly hear children and parents joking around in my office, calling each other one or more of these names.
    I would like to remind people that these degrading words do have the potential to fuel distortional thought patterns that lead to failure, loser mentality, depression, and anxiety. These labels destroy self-esteem and self-worth, and as a result, many never accept, love, or forgive themselves.
    Confession from God’s Word
    I am a new creature in Christ Jesus according to 2 Corinthians 5:17, and I cancel out every negative, demeaning, and derogatory label spoken over me. I repent for labeling other people. I refuse to label anyone with a negative label. I choose to see myself and others the way God sees us. God has called me “precious,” “beloved,” and the apple of His eye, and I am His child.
    8. Negative filter
    This person typically discounts all information that is positive or good. He usually discounts anything positive. In other words, he may hear a compliment but usually discounts it or discredits it.
    Instead he hears and remembers mainly criticisms and negative information. He focuses completely on the bad and