How can I nudge my self into the rest of God?

John55107 said:

How can I possibly get myself into rest? I've been depressed for almost 3 years, and I am sick of it. I've been reading passages over and over again and reminding myself that I'm in rest, and I see no results. Ive seen results in the past, and I was actually feeling better and being changed but I backslid, because It became a formula. I've been in a really bad episode since yesterday. How can I stop trying???

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It's futile to tell yourself that you're in rest. And it's not really a matter of trying when it comes to entering into His rest, but rather a matter of yielding. Come to Christ, take His yoke, and from there learn of Him and cooperate with Him. He is Lord and Savior, and trusting in Him as such puts one in His grace- and hence His rest.

"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

This is not a one-time thing either. This is how we must relate to Christ from the beginning to the end of the Christian race. The Book of Hebrews especially details and highlights this.

John55107 said:

How can I possibly get myself into rest? I've been depressed for almost 3 years, and I am sick of it. I've been reading passages over and over again and reminding myself that I'm in rest, and I see no results. Ive seen results in the past, and I was actually feeling better and being changed but I backslid, because It became a formula. I've been in a really bad episode since yesterday. How can I stop trying???

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I reckon you should stop trying to be a good Christian and just be content to be yourself. Allow yourself to go into "free fall" and settle your faith in God's salvation promises regardless of your feelings.

Talk yourself out to God about how you feel about things, and your desires, aspirations and ask Him to transform you into the person He wants you to be, instead of knocking yourself out trying to be the Christian you want to me.

There is nothing wrong with being straight, honest and open with God and saying, "I'm depressed, I feel like s***, and my life is just cr**! God is not going to have a nervous breakdown over straight and clear language like that from you. He loves people being brutally honest with Him. Once you have made the original statement, you can then tell God why you feel that way. When you come to God with that level of openness and honesty, you may very well find that God will reveal Himself to you and be honest and open with you about His thoughts toward you. Jeremiah prophesied, "These are My (God's) thoughts toward you, not of evil, but to give you a future and a hope."

John55107 said:

How can I possibly get myself into rest? I've been depressed for almost 3 years, and I am sick of it. I've been reading passages over and over again and reminding myself that I'm in rest, and I see no results. Ive seen results in the past, and I was actually feeling better and being changed but I backslid, because It became a formula. I've been in a really bad episode since yesterday. How can I stop trying???

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Seeking God is really not about feelings.

Don't always take a bad feeling in the wrong context, sometimes, it's a good thing.

John55107 said:

How can I possibly get myself into rest? I've been depressed for almost 3 years, and I am sick of it. I've been reading passages over and over again and reminding myself that I'm in rest, and I see no results. Ive seen results in the past, and I was actually feeling better and being changed but I backslid, because It became a formula. I've been in a really bad episode since yesterday. How can I stop trying???

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The root of depression is hopelessness. "Rest" is not passivity. We need to know who we are in Christ. Accept it. God's word tells us incredibly wonderful promises. We also need to know what God is doing through our trials: Romans 5 starts off

Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

"Hope" is essential. It is what makes faith concrete. Anyone can say, "I have faith." In what exactly? The "what" is hope. Above all else, get your eyes off yourself. All that you've said is about "I". Fix your attention on Lord Jesus, who He is and what He has done for you. Remind yourself of who you are in Christ. Forget what lies behind and press on. Resist the devil; he is the one who tries to bring you down. Accept the truth and the lies will be dispelled.

John55107 said:

How can I possibly get myself into rest? I've been depressed for almost 3 years, and I am sick of it. I've been reading passages over and over again and reminding myself that I'm in rest, and I see no results. Ive seen results in the past, and I was actually feeling better and being changed but I backslid, because It became a formula. I've been in a really bad episode since yesterday. How can I stop trying???

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Your are onto some great truths. These are that you need to rest in the Father and that you cannot be following a formula, being mechanical, with Him,and that you have to stop trying to do what you can't do on your own power..

If you are very healthy a 24 hour water only fast, once a week, with prayer, can work wonders. Otherwise, heart felt prayer will help. Prayers of others can help too. I pray you will be led to your victory.