Daily Devotional for Tuesday July 24, 2018

Toronto is Sadly Just the Latest Example of a Problem We Refuse to Deal With

(John 17:31; Romans 14:17; Nehemiah 8:10)

***DAILY PERSONAL PRAYER FOR YOU: Lord, give me the discernment I need today to recognize the traps of satan. Help me to see with spiritual eyes and hear with spiritual ears YOUR Truth alone. In the name of Jesus...AMEN!

Sadly, I have been right over these last 19 yrs in dealing with the various school and other mass shootings being about mental health, NOT guns some politicians and other talking heads want you to believe.

THAT IS A RED HERRING FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO DESIRE TO DEAL WITH THE REAL ISSUE WE FACE AS A NATION WHICH IS MENTAL HEALTH!!! From Columbine, to Virginia Tech, to Tucson, to a movie theater in Aurora, Co, to Sandy Hook elementary, Toronto the other day, to virtually every one of these incidents, if not and Islamic terrorist, those responsible were people with a long history of MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES that should have never even been walking the streets!

When I was growing up in the 60s, there was a beautiful gated complex a few miles from my home that housed people with mental illnesses. These facilities existed throughout the nation. I am NOT in any way condoning the horrific things that happened in some of these facilities, but for the most part, they served a critical need for society by providing a place for those who were mentally ill, those whose families simply weren't equipped to care for them.

During the 70s, the majority of these facilities were closed due to the influx of liberal, privacy, and individual rights legislation passed during that era. It made it very difficult to identify or even treat those individuals who had legitimate mental health issues. Sadly, today the only institution in place to deal with these people is the prison system. The prison system was NEVER designed to be a defacto mental health complex, however, that is exactly what it has become. Over 60% of those incarcerated today in cities, counties, state, and federal jails have legitimate mental health issues.

Due to the breakdown of marriage and the family that I have been talking about for over 14 years now, we have an entirely new generation of people with mental illness brought on by the broken, blended, and destructive conditions they have grown up in. Exponential increases in sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of children has created a new generation of people who grow up with very real mental health issues! Factor in violent video games, a culture that fosters every kind of perversion and evil the mind can imagine, a society that devalues life, and you have generations now growing up with mental health issues our society is not equipped to handle!

What would be a legitimate plan to deal with this societal issue? You can make coffee with your cell phone today! With the incredible technology and brainpower that exists, the private sector (though they will have to fight the privacy advocates) needs to develop a mental health data base. Screen children when they start elementary school, junior high, senior high, college if a person enrolls, and during any job application. This would create a data base of people that need to be watched and insure they are getting the proper help and treatment for any sort of mental health issues they may have!

This is an issue the church and most people refuse to deal with. The mental illness and depression that so many suffer from is a legitimate issue! Let me say right up front. Mental illness is just as real as a broken leg. Just because it is not a visible illness, does not mean it is not as real as someone with a broken bone, a bad heart, or any other illness. MENTAL ILLNESS AND DEPRESSION ARE REAL!

I have shared with you in the past that God's number one instrument of healing is called a DOCTOR. One of God's chief methods of healing is called MEDICINE. Where do you think the incredible intelligence and the special gift to be a doctor comes from? It comes from God! Where do you think the incredible intelligence, and the inspiration to create medicine comes from? It comes from God!

I want to encourage anyone today that is suffering from any form of mental illness or depression to seek out the best professional help possible. God has raised up mental health professionals and given men the wisdom to create drugs to treat mental illness, so that you can live a normal and productive life. Just like there is no reason to be ashamed to see a doctor if you break your arm, just like there is no reason to be ashamed if you have to take medicine to treat a kidney problem, there is no reason to be ashamed to see a doctor or take the proper medication if you suffer from mental illness or depression!

For many people that are suffering from depression, I want to help you find the joy in life again. Many who suffer from depression have simply allowed the events and circumstances of their life to overwhelm and paralyze them. We learn at an early age how to deal with the day to day issues of life, how to deal with problems. What happens to many who are depressed, is they have simply been unable to cope with the things that have happened to them and can't seem to get past certain problems in their life.

The other part of the answer to depression is serving others. The Bible teaches us that if we will be about our Father's business, our Father will be about our business. If we will serve others, it is amazing how our own problems become more manageable. If you are suffering from depression, let me encourage you today to get out and start finding ways to serve others.

You see, when we serve others, we are serving God. Our God-given purpose in this life is to serve and glorify God with our lives. Depression can't set in when you are serving others. Let me say that one more time. DEPRESSION CAN'T SET IN WHEN YOU ARE SERVING OTHERS!

I love you and care about you so much. I realize many people suffer from some form of mental illness that is just as real as any other type of illness. I will be praying today that those who are suffering from some form of mental illness, will seek out the best professional help possible and take advantage of whatever medication that is prescribed to treat you. God is still in the healing business, and GOD CAN BRING HEALING TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS.

I will also be praying for those of you today who are suffering from depression. The two-fold answer for overcoming your depression and finding the joy of the Lord again in your life, is hope and service. Seeking the Lord to give you wisdom and direction in finding a solution to whatever problems or issues you are facing in your life. If you stay focused on Christ, He will give you the hope to get victory over whatever you are facing today.

The other part of the answer is finding ways to serve others. I pray that you will get serious about finding ways to serve others. God has called us to serve others, and when we are doing that, fulfilling our purpose in life, our own problems simply don't seem as great. When you are busy serving others, you don't have time to get depressed.

I pray that this word today will be a breakthrough in your life if you are battling with mental illness or depression. God loves you very much. He wants you to have joy in your life, despite whatever trials and tribulations you may be experiencing. That joy comes from knowing Christ as our Savior. When we know Christ, there is no such thing as being hopeless. When we know Christ, we have a desire to serve Him by serving others. It is through Christ that you can have victory over mental illness and depression!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller