I want to talk to you today about having a persecution mentality, where you feel that everyone and everybody is against you and that your life is much worse than anyone else’s. The devil will use your thoughts and situations to cause you to think that you are the only one going through some tribulation. This plan of his will isolate you, and cause you to blame people, yourself, or God for what is happening. If you dwell on your situation, instead of God and His Word, you will find yourself sinking into depression and darkness. It is like water going down a toilet, swirling your life around and around and going lower and lower. When you feel your emotions heading downward, grab a Bible, a worship CD, call a friend who loves Jesus, and PRAY together. This will stop the downward flow! God brings us UP, the devil takes you DOWN. Pray with me: “Father, help me to understand that I am not alone because You are always with me and for me. Please help me have the strength to seek for you in the darkness, and send what I need to get a true revelation of You. Send people who will encourage me and pray with me, and help me to understand the root of this problem so that I can overcome the devil with Your Power. In Jesus’ name we pray! Amen!”