ATTENTIVE AS A LIGHT
DEPRESSION
«We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises In your hearts”(2 Peter 1:19, NIV).
The eighth symptom of depression is the poor ability to focus and think reasonably. The studies of brain scans conducted by Catharine Harmer from the Centre for Human Brain Activity at University of Oxford (United Kingdom) shows that an arca called amygdala becomes notably active in the brains of people with depression when they are shown negative images and narratives. This means they tend to accentuate and amplify the adversities. Even the most insignificant detail, which others would overlook, seems to be a point of focus and exaggeration to the person with depression. By being aware of this, psychotherapists can help them change this tendency and get used to a reasonable and balanced way of thinking.
This principle also has an application in spiritual life. The apostle Peter reminds the believers that their attention might be biased and their interpretation incorrect so they need a reference. The same way the psychologist guides the patient through his thinking habits, the Word of God, specifically the prophetic revelation, helps the believer not to walk in darkness of the ignorance of the divine plans but to move forward in the light until Christ returns (John 14:3).
The Greek verb prosejo, translated by the New International Version as «to pay attention» (2 Pet1:19), can also mean «to drive a boat to a safe harbor.» It is an image of high pedagogical value as good reference points arc necessary for safe navigation. I (J) live close to the Columbia river, the great river of the American northwest region, which rises in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. After its 2,000 km journey, it empties its bodies of waters in the Pacific Ocean near the city of Portland. Most parts of its waters arc navigable and have served as mode of transportation for generations. But the river has also parts with obstacles, reefs and curves that make navigation unsafe in certain areas. This is why a system of navigation aids was put in place to facilitate safe transit. helmsman must pay attention to pairs of light signals in such a way that one light aligns with the other. As soon as the captain considers both signals to be in a vertical line, the passage is safe.
Let us pay attention to the reliable prophetic word—that light in the darkness- which will take our ship to a safe harbor until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts.
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Alejandra Zavala & Magda Sanz
Radio Joven Adventista
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