You are not alone. An extract from: "Elijah under the Juniper Tree". View full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9NRYQmeo4A Elijah was a mighty prophet, yet very human. His journey included a time of great depression and discouragement. Elijah ran to the wilderness and sat under a juniper tree. One in 5 Australians experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months. The Australian Bureau of Statistics say 2.1 million Australians, or 9.3 per cent of our population suffer from some form of depression. Elijah knew what depression felt like. Discouragement. Like the psalmist in Psalm 42, he felt overwhelmed - all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Elijah had been through a lot… the dry brook, the empty barrel, the dead boy, the prophets of Baal, the lack of rain. He had seen the Lord do wonders. At Mount Carmel he had confronted the 850 false prophets of Baal and the nation's idolatry. He saw God’s great power and intervention. Fire came down from heaven, and consumed Elijah's sacrifice. Queen Jezebel threatened his life. Elijah went through deep discouragement and despair. He wanted to run away from it all. Discouragement can be powerful. People like David, like Job have experienced discouragement.1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.Elijah sits under the juniper tree. He cries out: I have had enough! He wanted to quit. Take my life! Have you had a juniper tree moment? “I feel like giving up!”Isolation can often deepen discouragement. Don't be afraid to reach out. Share your burden. Reach out to others who can offer support, encourage, and pray for you.Elijah’s cry to God sounds quite desperate. God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him. Tell Him your emotions, doubts, and struggles. Know that your God given purpose is greater than your current circumstances. God's plans are bigger than our problems. James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are… Have you ever had a Juniper Tree moment?1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. (6) And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.In the depths of his discouragement, Elijah seeks refuge in the wilderness, where God graciously ministers to him. He was tired. He got nourishment and rest. God refreshed him. Rely on God’s sustaining power. Rely on God's provision. 1 Kings 19:7-8 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. (8) And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Don’t give in to despair. Don’t stay under the juniper tree, in the wilderness, the place of discouragement, weakness and doubt. God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper, demonstrating His presence and reassurance. The journey is too great for thee. Believer, you can know that God meets you in your lowest moments.Elijah needed to hear from God. He had been listening to the word of discouragement - but he needed to hear the Word of the Lord.God looks at you and He says, What doest thou here? God meets with us, wherever we are at. Even while we are in the midst of our own pity party. Depression can paralyse people. Trust in His provision and guidance to lead you through. God reassures Elijah of his purpose and calling, despite his feelings of inadequacy and despair. The still, small voice. He brings comfort by His Word. It’s the still, small voice. Romans 15:4 ...we through ...comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Don’t you quit. You do what you’re supposed to be doing.Pour out your heart to God in prayer when you're discouraged. Surrender your fears, your doubts, and your worries unto the Lord. You are not alone. Being isolated from other believers is not good for us.God renewed Elijah’s hope and faith. He gave Elijah a new mission, a fresh hope.Are you under the juniper tree? God can meet with you. Pour out your heart to God in prayer. Hear His voice. It’s still, small. You have to listen.God meets us in our weakness with His gentle word. Our disappointment may be His appointment… God is not through with us. Discouragement is where courage gets taken away. God can give it back. Elijah got his courage back. He stopped sitting under the jumper tree. We all have a divine assignment to fulfil. What are you doing here?Like Elijah, if you will hear the word of the Lord, get up out of your cave and go… the power of God will come upon you again. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSDm8QX-1CA

What does the Bible say about man's relationship with God? Our Lord tells us: …thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment… Has God got first place in our lives? Without God’s love, all of our religious works and efforts are only a “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal”. Let's love God with our HEART. Our love relationship with God is a decision of the heart. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Yet we can know a deep love relationship with God. God's Spirit creates a new heart within us. Our heart can be the dwelling place of God – Romans 5:5 …the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost… Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. Does God dwell in your heart? Does your love for God come from your whole heart? Let's love God with our SOUL. The soul is our whole personality - our energy, emotion, and willpower. We have been designed with a soul, as a creature that is only fulfilled by having the Lord God in the centre of our lives. Let's love God with our MIND. Our mind can be evil, vain, corrupt, defiled – even blinded. Is our mind surrendered to His ways? Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. May God protect our minds from unholy influences. Let’s use our mind for God, and develop our minds in right thinking. Let's love God with our STRENGTH. This talks of our human energy, effort, and might. It can mean to give Him our resources — time, energy, our gifts, and abilities. God’s love translates into our everyday life. We can love God so, that He counts us His friend. Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. We can develop a relationship with God. Friendship with God. It is faithful love. He loves us when we don’t deserve it. Proverbs 18:24 tells us …there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. He’ll stick with you. By faith we can be His friend. He can be our friend. Abraham knew such a friendship with God: James 2:23 …Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Our Lord is called a friend of sinners. He is a friend of those who are undeserving, who simply trust Him. His love is the greatest love. John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Our Lord is the greatest friend. He laid down His life for us. God’s love is Calvary love. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. God’s love should mark how we live. God wants that for His church. Revelation 3 tells of the church at Philadelphia. God honoured this church. They had remained faithful and had held fast God’s Word. God's true believers of the last days will be such a church. “Philadelphia” means brotherly love. Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. We belong to God’s family – as brothers and sisters together. We are God’s family because of the Love of God. Hebrews 13:1 tells us, “let Brotherly love continue”. Keep on loving. Our Lord Jesus said, "Love as I have loved you." There’s a lack of love nowadays. These are the last days. Loveless days. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Let’s aim to demonstrate the love of Christ in our relationships with others. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Put God’s love into action in your life. We can not only know the love of God, and know God as our true friend, but we can see His love flow in our life to others. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNtmhGi_v4w

1 To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in. Refrain: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son and give him the glory, great things he has done! 2 Great things he has taught us, great things he has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son, but purer and higher and greater will be our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see. [Refrain] ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJhrF0Ks6k

How to hear "The still, small voice". An extract from: "Elijah under the Juniper Tree". View the full video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9NRYQmeo4A Elijah was a mighty prophet, yet he was very human. His journey included a time of great depression and discouragement. Elijah ran to the wilderness and sat under a juniper tree. One in five Australians experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months. The Australian Bureau of Statistics say 2.1 million Australians, or 9.3 per cent of our population are suffering from some form of depression. Elijah knew what depression felt like. Discouragement. Like the psalmist in Psalm 42, he felt overwhelmed - all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Elijah had been through a lot… the dry brook, the empty barrel, the dead boy, the prophets of Baal, the lack of rain. He had seen the Lord do wonders. At Mount Carmel he had confronted the 850 false prophets of Baal and the nation's idolatry. He saw God’s great power and intervention. Fire came down from heaven, and consumed Elijah's sacrifice. Queen Jezebel threatened his life. Elijah went through deep discouragement and despair. He wanted to run away from it all. Discouragement can be powerful.You could call it “Emotion sickness”. People like David, like Job have experienced discouragement.1 Kings 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.Elijah sits under the juniper tree. He cries out: I have had enough! He wanted to quit. Take my life! Have you had a juniper tree moment? “I feel like giving up!”Isolation can often deepen discouragement. Don't be afraid to reach out. Share your burden. Reach out to others who can offer support, encourage, and pray for you.Elijah’s cry to God sounds quite desperate. God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him. Tell Him your emotions, doubts, and struggles. Know that your God given purpose is greater than your current circumstances. God's plans are bigger than our problems. James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are… Have you ever had a Juniper Tree moment?1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. (6) And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.In the depths of his discouragement, Elijah seeks refuge in the wilderness, where God graciously ministers to him. He was tired. He got nourishment and rest. God refreshed him. Rely on God’s sustaining power. Rely on God's provision. 1 Kings 19:7-8 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. (8) And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. Don’t give in to despair. Don’t stay under the juniper tree, in the wilderness, the place of discouragement, weakness and doubt. God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper, demonstrating His presence and reassurance. The journey is too great for thee. Believer, you can know that God meets you in your lowest moments.Elijah needed to hear from God. He had been listening to the word of discouragement - but he needed to hear the Word of the Lord.God looks at you and He says, What doest thou here? God meets with us, wherever we are at. Even while we are in the midst of our own pity party. Depression can paralyse people. Trust in His provision and guidance to lead you through. God reassures Elijah of his purpose and calling, despite his feelings of inadequacy and despair. The still, small voice. He brings comfort by His Word. It’s the still, small voice. Romans 15:4 ...we through ...comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Don’t you quit. You do what you’re supposed to be doing.Pour out your heart to God in prayer when you're discouraged. Surrender your fears, your doubts, and your worries unto the Lord. You are not alone. Being isolated from other believers is not good for us.God renewed Elijah’s hope and faith. He gave Elijah a new mission, a fresh hope.Are you under the juniper tree? God can meet with you. Pour out your heart to God in prayer. Hear His voice. It’s still, small. You have to listen.God meets us in our weakness with His gentle word. Our disappointment may be His appointment… God is not through with us. Discouragement is where courage gets taken away. God can give it back. Elijah got his courage back. He stopped sitting under the jumper tree. We all have a divine assignment to fulfil. What are you doing here?Like Elijah, if you will hear the word of the Lord, get up out of your cave and go… the power of God will come upon you again. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKcjw8mICnQ