The spirit of depression over London

London is a pressured city. The first impressions for the visitor are of busyness and the continual grind of London life. Suicide is the main cause of death for young men in London and there is a spirit of depression over many Londoners.

I believe this affects us all whether in the church or in the world. A common statistic used is that one in five of us will suffer ‘clinical depression’ in our lifetime, but a higher proportion are oppressed by general gloom, feelings of futility, lack of hope and being “beset by dismal stories all around”(John Bunyan).

Particular contributing factors in our city are the high cost of living, unstable communities (high turnover even in affluent areas), poor family support, cultural and linguistic barriers to relationships, often grimy unedifying environments, stresses due to time demands, drug and alcohol abuse and fear of crime.

We need to overcome with the hope and joy of the Lord.

Key scripture references

• Psalm 107:10-16
• Isaiah 61:1-3 esp v3
• Isaiah 35:10
• Nehemiah 8:10
• Romans 15:13

Prayer points

1. Mercy for rebelling against the words of God and despising his counsel, that as a city we would cry to the Lord in our trouble (see Ps107 ref)
2. For the church to be set free to worship the Lord, for downcast souls to be lifted up in praise.
3. That those struggling with clinical depression would find peace and that any underlying causes would be resolved too.
4. For the church to grasp its inheritance of everlasting joy, and the joy of the Lord to be it’s strength.
5. For the church to be empowered to bring the good news to London, especially healing, deliverance and salvation.
6. For the ‘media’ to take responsibility for its effect on the heart ‘climate’ of this city and be used for proclamation of good news
7. For peoples’ hearts to be cleansed and healed of disillusionment, scepticism and cynicism and any other barriers to receiving true hope and good news.
8. For people to be committed to our city and invest into it for all of our benefit, rather than exploit it.
9. To ask God to enlarge our vision and reveal to us His plan and destiny for London!

Written by Nicola, a doctor/mum based in North London.