The Enemy’s Plan For You – PT. 3: Depression

In this series we’ve looked at how the enemy often works in stages, first doubt, which if left unchecked will lead to discouragement.

If those seeds are left unattended, they can grow heavier, sometimes settling into what the Bible refers to as Spiritual heaviness or becoming “Dismayed”, or to become depressed.

1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

The Enemy’s Plan For You – Part 2: Discouragement

1 Peter 5:8 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”

Discouragement is often the second step in the enemy’s plan against us.

As we said yesterday, first comes doubt, that quiet whisper that questions what God has said.

Then comes discouragement, a heavy feeling that makes you question whether it’s even worth it to keep going.

The Enemy’s Plan For You — Part 1: Doubt

1 Peter 5:8

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

It is important for us to know that The enemy rarely begins with open attack.

He begins with a question. A whisper. A seed of uncertainty.

His first step is not destruction — it is doubt.

Many have asked recently about the songs that I play at the end of some of our devotions. The particular interest usually seems to be, who wrote them and who sings them.

  Since I don’t usually like to take up much of our devotion time discussing these types of subjects, I thought I would write this Blog to answer these questions.

When we hear the word miracle, our minds often think about the extraordinary, the seas parting, the blind seeing, the impossible suddenly becoming possible.

And God still does those things. But as I’ve walked with Him over the years, I’ve come to realize that many of His greatest miracles don’t make the headlines or shake the ground, They simply show up quietly in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

The Mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

There are days when my thoughts feel all over the place.

I feel pulled in too many directions at once.

Decisions seem stack up, and my emotions try to get involved.

If I am not careful to recognize that, the world seems determined to shape how I think.

If there is one thing that I am Spiritually stubborn about, it’s not allowing satan, the world or even my own self to dictate how I think or react.

In moments like that, this verse gently calls me back to a simple Truth, we have the mind of Christ.

There is something deeply comforting in the words “God is able.” Not that God might provide, or could provide, but that He is able to provide.

Paul reminds us that God is not limited by our circumstances, our resources, or even our understanding. He is fully capable of making all Grace abound toward us.

Abound means to overflow, to be in great supply, or to increase beyond what is merely enough.

Notice the rhythm of this verse: all grace… always… all sufficiency… all things. God’s provision isn’t seasonal or selective.

The very things we are asking him for this year, was available last year.

I am excited to release a new album titled, “From Where I Am”.

So much of the heart behind this project flows from the spirit of “This Is The Life”.

Those front porch moments where faith meets everyday living… where we slow down, breathe in God’s goodness, reflect on where we’ve been, and look forward with hope to what lies ahead.

There comes a moment in every life when the Lord calls us to stand at the crossroads and decide which direction we will go. Joshua stood before the people of Israel and reminded them of God’s faithfulness, how He brought them out of bondage, guided them through the wilderness, and blessed them beyond anything they deserved. Then Joshua placed the decision before them: Choose you this day whom ye will serve. It wasn’t a gentle suggestion. It was a defining moment.

There are moments in life when the journey feels long, the shadows feel close, and the path ahead isn’t as clear as we’d like it to be. We’ve all stood in places like that—places of uncertainty, loss, fear, or quiet ache. Yet Psalm 23:4 speaks into those moments with a deeply personal truth: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” From where I am today, I may not have every answer, but I do not walk alone.

There are seasons in life when the storms roll in faster than we can prepare for them. The winds of disappointment blow hard, the rains of worry fall heavy, and the lightning of unexpected trials flashes across our skies without warning. In those moments, it can feel as though life is trying to break us — to bend our hope, to wear down our faith, and to silence the song inside our hearts. But somewhere deep within, there must be a gentle yet unshakable resolve that rises and says, “Life can’t break me.”

Spiritual freedom is not just a church phrase—it is a living reality that reaches into every part of who we are. When the heart is free in Christ, the mind finds peace, the emotions find healing, and even the pressures of life lose their power to control us. Jesus did not simply come to forgive sins; He came to restore the whole person.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

There is something deeply calming about Jesus’ invitation to simply look at the lilies. In Matthew 6:28–29, He tells us to “consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin… yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” It’s almost as if He gently takes us by the hand, leads us away from our anxious thoughts, and asks us to slow down long enough to notice how beautifully God takes care of the simplest things in creation.

Impossible to us may be an open door to trust. Impossible may be the very place where faith learns to breathe. It is in the waiting rooms, the long nights, the unanswered questions that God reminds us: I am not limited by what limits you.

ACCEPTED AS YOU ARE

Romans 15:7

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

There is something beautiful about the diversity of God’s family. If you look around in your church, your community, or even your own family, you’ll see a it in the different  personalities, backgrounds, cultures, and life stories.

Each of us carry our own set of experiences that shape how we think, speak, and act. Some grew up in loving, safe homes; others learned to survive in harsh and harmful environments. Some were taught patience and gentleness, while others had to fight just to be heard.

Yet in the middle of all this diversity, and sometimes tension, the Word of God calls us to this clear command: “Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

Engraved on His Hands

Isaiah 49:16 – “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

There are few things more personal than our hands. They carry the fingerprints of our identity. They bear the scars of our life story.

Hands are where work is done, where comfort is given, and where love is shown. When we hold something or someone dear, we hold them close, often, in our hands.

So when God says in Isaiah 49:16, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my Hands,” He isn’t just offering poetic comfort. He’s declaring something sacred, something Eternal. He’s showing us how deeply and permanently we are connected to Him.

There’s something powerful about stepping back and looking at the world—not just through our eyes, but through the eyes of God. You see it in the contrast of nature:

The roar of the ocean and the stillness of a quiet morning. It’s a beautiful mix, each part shaped for a specific purpose.

The same can be said for people. We come from different backgrounds, with different stories, struggles, and gifts—but we were all made by the same loving God.

1 Corinthians 12:13 reminds us of this truth:

“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

God Always Provides

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “The Lord will provide.” It’s often said in moments of uncertainty when the bills are piling up, when the job offer hasn’t come yet or when the path ahead looks unstable and unclear.

But what does it truly mean when we say, “God will provide”? And how can we trust in that promise when the evidence around us seems contrary to the promise?