Have you ever found yourself going about your day, running errands, at work or connecting with friends, only to be startled by a thought that seems to come out of nowhere? Perhaps it enters as a subtle judgmental opinion or perverse idea, or maybe it is a loud and overwhelming statement of, “I hate myself!” Scripture is clear that we are to be sober-minded in all that we do and to manage our thinking so that it is lovely, pure and noble. But, scripture also teaches us to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). I propose that not every thought that enters your mind originates from you. There are thoughts from the enemy that will enter your mind uninvited, and those thoughts you must take captive!

Imagine with me for a moment a soldier heading to the battlefield with no armor or weapon, dressed in street clothes, and no prior training for how to fight in battle. Don’t you think we’d deem them unfit for the job and question their ability to protect our country and attain victory?

There are certain words in the Church that have often inflicted fear and uncertainty for years — words like psychics, new age, and horoscopes. But should believers be scared of these evil schemes? Should we run from the things we don’t understand and hide from the deception of the evil realm? The challenge is that much of the Western Church does not discuss the reality of the spiritual realm, but rather soothes the uncertainty with greater intellectual intelligence and furthers spiritual incompetence. They make us uncertain of what to do and confuse us with how much power they actually hold. Fear is not our destiny nor the solution to the problem.

I had an encounter with God years ago that has changed my life forever. As I laid in my bathtub one night Jesus walked into my bathroom and told me, “You’re a great leader. You’re going to be a prophet to kings, prime ministers, and governors.” You may think that is incredible or wish God would walk into your room and give you clarity on your calling.

With Easter in just a couple of days, I’ve been thinking about the power of the cross. I always find myself in awe and admiration of the sacrifice that was displayed for me on the cross between the nails, flesh, and wood.

Have you ever had a problem in life you just can’t seem to solve? It can feel like you’ve hit a dead-end road, exhausted all of your possibilities, knocked on every door, and called everyone you know - yet still, the problem persists.

Have you ever had someone walk through your door unannounced? It can feel invasive, breach trust, or even rob your peace. This is what a spiritual battle can feel like; a constant uncertainty that your worst nightmare is right around the corner about to barge in the front door and make themselves at home.

If you’ve ever battled with the weight of depression, you know it can feel like the thief in the night who came to steal all your joy and drive for life. This is what depression was like for me; it robbed me of any drive for life, and I was beat-down on my couch for seven months.

HOW TO OVERCOME A SPIRIT OF SUICIDE