Introduction:

Fear can chase us into a fence.  In certain situations, our prayers can be pleading and pitiful, focusing on our problems.  There is another tape rolling through our minds during this problem-solving approach to prayer.  What is keeping us in our fence and not finding our freedom is doubt.  Christians can believe in God and doubt at the same time.  This blog post is an attempt to help anyone who wants to be free in Christ and be done with doubt.

The Battle Between Belief and Doubt

The battle between belief and doubt is nothing new.  Glancing back into the days of paradise, gullible minds were present even in perfection.  The purity of Eve was polluted by the luring lies of a serpent. Her compromise convinced Adam that to disobey was okay.  One doubt led to severance from God and their days of glory and peace.  We need not investigate history to know the consequences it serves.  Haven’t we all walked on the dangerous ground of doubt?

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Gen. 1:1-5)

Doubt is dangerous. It creates doublemindedness. When doubt gains dominion over belief, it cancels complete trust in Christ.  Belief and doubt are like oil and water; they do not mix well with faith.  Faith is when our belief in God causes us to act.  If we minimize the danger of doubt, we can begin to blend in with the world and fall into compromise.  Our actions don’t line up with the Word. Doubt is forceful, keeping us out of the garden of God’s best like it did for Adam and Eve.  We need to take heed to the subtility of Satan’s lies because the truth can become buried in everyday circumstances. 

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed, For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)

Doubt in the Daily Routine

It is during the daily routine of life that wrong thoughts seep into the mind.  Maybe it is when finances are walking on a tight rope.  The bills trip your faith, tumbling trust into fear.  The monthly face-off between your faith in God’s provision and the uncertainty of poverty takes you down.

I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. (Ps. 132:15)

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Cor. 10:12)

Perhaps during a conversation, you feel inferior or judged.  You doubt your worth. The opposition to your righteousness is challenged by a demonic influence. The devil doesn’t want you to remember your value is based in God’s love, but in another’s opinion.  

He that believeth in Him is not condemned. (Jn. 3:18)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 Jn. 4:16)

Or doubt could look like a stubborn stain, clinging to your sickness. You know Scripture tells you, With His stripes we are healed (Is. 53:5), yet lingering symptoms send your mind into the domain of second guessing.  

During these times, it may be hard to grasp the reality of God’s Word.  Your attention to your problem creates an illusion. You appear to be lost in a maze of mirrors instead of being led by the hand of Jesus. 

Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5)

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town. (Mk. 8:23)

Faith is a Blind Man’s Walk

Faith in Jesus leads us like a blind man to the Father’s answers. Through spiritual eyes, we see God’s promise and wait for its manifestation.  If Jesus says it, we can believe it will be performed.  Trusting in Him means we don’t elevate anything above His Word.  We need to be careful of formulating our beliefs upon another’s experience.  People’s outcomes vary and hold no power for our problem.  Only the Word sets us free.

The truth will guide us out of our doubts. When the Word sheds scales off of our unbelief, the desired promise comes into view.  Therefore, thanksgiving falls from our lips before we gain our physical sight.  Faith means we pray the promises and not the problem.  We put our trust and attention to what God says, not the situation hurting us. Faith says, the problem can’t deliver us, but God’s Word can.  This freedom was fought for on the cross.  Shall we stay with Scripture and not shy away when situations tell us otherwise?

For we walk by faith not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (Jn. 20:29)

Proof is in the Cross

Promises are proof of God’s mercy. God’s gifts are freely given to us because of grace. Satan uses scissors of doubt, hoping to clip our wings of faith and forsake our freedom to receiving God’s providence.  We must remember to whom we belong.  As children of the Father, He gives us His inheritance. Get to know what you really have inherited through the sacrifice of His Son. 

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. (Micah 7:18)

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance. (Eph. 1:11)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 5:1)

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (Jn. 8:36)

Possess His Promises

God delights in the pleasure of His people.  He does not tell you to be selective on what verse to believe and receive.  Next time you read a promise don’t pick and choose or doubt it is for you. The Father longs for you to believe.  

For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation. (Ps. 149:4)

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive. (Matt. 21:22)

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. (Matt. 21:21)

Finally, have you ever wondered how faith to believe happens?  By hearing about Jesus who is the Word. 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)

Every promise is already fulfilled in Jesus. The areas you are weak in believing, meditate on Scripture pertaining to that need.  Keep spending time with Jesus and He will prepare your heart to receive. Why not start now?

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us. (2 Cor. 20)

 Do you believe your sins are forgiven, your sorrow turns into joy, your sickness is healed, your barns have plenty and you have the mind of Christ?  I pray you said yes because fear flees when you believe!  Now go ahead and possess His promises and say goodbye to doubt! 

I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. (1 Jn. 2:12)

But your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (Jn. 16:20)

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. (Lk. 10:9)

So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and the presses shall burst out with new wine. (Prov. 3:10)

But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16)

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, be not afraid, only believe. (Mk. 5:36)