Since the beginning of time man has struggled with doubt. One of our first accounts of this was Eve doubting God's word when it came to eating from the tree in the Garden. Why did this happen? Because the enemy came and whispered lies into her ear. She gave voice to the enemy and he began to mess with her by saying things like, "has God indeed said" and "you will not surely die". You see it wasn't Eve that created the doubt inside herself, it was the fact that Eve gave the enemy a platform to speak to her that created the doubt. And all throughout history that is what the enemy has sought out again and again....a platform to speak into our lives. And sometimes even when we know something is from God, satan can plant the smallest seed of doubt and sit back and watch it grow.
What is the key to taking a stand against doubt? How do we forbid the enemy to plant thoughts in our hearts and minds that create doubt? And how do we know "the answer" when doubt creeps in? I have had many people confess that when doubt creeps in their number one struggle is now knowing which thing is from God, and which thing is from the enemy. They will be so sure they heard from God about something, and then all the sudden what they were once so sure about, they now are questioning. I'll admit this is something I too have struggled with many times as well, and I will not pretend like I have found the magic answer to these questions. But I will say this, I have found that He will reveal things to me when I give Him a chance to. Let me explain what I mean by that. If I hear from God and begin to follow something I believe He has called me to do, He leads me and He makes a way. He does not call us to something and then put road blogs and detours in our path. He guides us. That does not mean everything God calls us to is easy. It just simply means that the things that try to prevent us from carrying out His will are things He will help us overcome. However, when we follow our fleshly desires, and things come against those, the ability to overcome becomes much harder and a lot more of our own work. That is usually a good indicator that this IS the will of God, or this is something I am chasing. But what about the times when God clearly calls you to something, and then the doubt sets in once you begin to carry it out. How do we fight that and know the difference? James 1:6 says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind". And that really is it. It really is about faith. Every time the enemy tries to stir doubt in you it is also a time for God to grow faith in you. The reason I say that is because when you are not sure, but you lay it at Jesus' feet, then you are giving Him a chance to show you. And the faith is, that if I take a step in the wrong direction, you will correct me. And if I take a step in the right direction, you will keep guiding me. In Matthew 21:21 Jesus told them "if you have faith and do not doubt". Jesus put these two things in the same sentence for a reason...and that is because one kills the other. Doubt will kill faith and faith will kill doubt. There is not room for both, but there is room for mercy from God when we go to him like the man who wanted his son healed in Mark 9:24. The man admitted to Jesus, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief". This kind of admission is different from doubt, because it IS you laying it at Jesus' feet. It is an admission of weakness and it gives God a place to move, because He WILL help your unbelief.
So what are some of the keys to fighting doubt? Humbly and honestly seek God, and then seek Him more. Be patient, allow God to show you His plan in His timing. Look at the things that are in your way. Are they things that God will use to grow you as you overcome them, or are they things that you must battle in your own strength to get where you want to go? Fast! If you are in doubt about something, then fast and pray about it. Nothing puts the flesh under submission like fasting, and it can allow you to rely more on God and see in the spirit more clearly. And last, PEACE.....peace is what you will feel when you are seeking God's will. Even if that is in the midst of a storm, you will find His peace. When doubt kicks up in you and causes you to look down 2 different paths, then only one of those will lead to God's peace. Do not be fooled by the world's peace, it IS NOT the same. The peace the comes from making a worldly decision is a flat out lie and will very quickly lead a serious lack of God's peace. It will last for moments, where God's peace lasts forever. And God's peace will create peace around you, where the world's peace will usually end up creating some kind of chaos and trouble around. And seeking God's wisdom will show you the difference.
Seek Him, seek a stronger faith in Him, seek His joy and His peace...and stomp on the doubt that the enemy tries to put in you. With God's strength this can be done!
God, thank You for the peace that surpasses all understanding. It is THE thing that let's us know we are in Your will. Holy Spirit please help anyone today who is stuck in a situation of doubt and guide them down the path that God has laid out for them. And then give them the ability to explain to someone how they overcame doubt so You will always receive the glory. In Jesus name, Amen
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