By: Jim Kaseman
Maybe you’re one of those who are wondering why you don’t have the joy, peace and victory that you once enjoyed. Your prayers seem like they’re not being answered like they used to be. There seems to be much defeat, worry and frustration in your life. Your faith seems weak and tests, trials and temptations seem to pull you down; whereas you used to overcome them quite easily.
The answer to all of these things is found in the Word of God. It is DOUBT. The temptation to doubt what God has promised us in His Word is one of Satan’s most effective weapons to rob the Christian of peace of mind, healing, joy, material provision of his needs, spiritual power, strong faith, blessings and victory. The spiritual principle set forth in James 1:5-7 is applicable to any situation or promise God has made us in His Word which is to be appropriated by faith.
“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 DOUBTING (Greek). For he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”
God says that one who doubts is like a wave of the sea. He wavers between faith and unbelief and therefore is unprepared to receive the very thing he seeks. He is like a wind tossed wave, rising first with hope, sinking down out of sight into the depths of doubt. He asks in faith for an answer to a need, then later begins to doubt, and Satan robs him of the answer.
Remember that whatever God has promised in His Word can only be received by faith. Doubt is a disease that eats away your faith like a cancer. Doubt will have the same effect on your faith like the sun has on a snowball. Faith is from God; doubt is from Satan. He who doubts can go only one way – DOWN!
Easy Steps to Overcome Doubt
1. REMEMBER – JESUS BORE ALL OF OUR SINS
Romans 14:23 tells us, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “but without faith it is impossible to please Him.” The Word of God plainly states that doubt is a sin and it displeases God. And since Jesus died for all of our sins he also died for our doubts. So confess the sin of doubt according to I John 1:9 and then roll all of your cares over on God according to I Peter 5:7 and walk in faith trusting God.
2. EXPECT ANSWERS TO PRAYER
Many times prayer goes unanswered because Christians do not ask in faith and expect answers when they claim a promise of God. They don’t take God’s integrity seriously enough to expect an answer each time they pray. They pray hoping they’ll get an answer instead of believing that God is interested in answering each and every one of their prayers. So we need to expect to receive answers to prayer like Jesus said: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24). “If ye have faith, and doubt not…all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21-22)
3. CAST DOWN THOUGHTS OF DOUBT
Defeat begins IN THE MIND. Satan suggests doubts to your mind such as whether or not God is willing to answer your particular request, or whether you are worthy or have asked properly. He tells you your problem is too difficult, or your disease is too far advanced for any hope of cure. Here is where most people are defeated. They allow thoughts of doubt to enter their mind; they entertain the doubt; they examine its merits; or they try to reason with the problem instead of resting on God’s promise. Then when they try to get rid of the doubts and exercise faith, THEY FIND THAT THE DOUBTS REFUSE TO LEAVE! Entertain doubt for a minute and it will require an hour to get rid of it; listen to Satan’s doubt for an hour and it will require a week to gain back the ground lost and recover your faith! DO NOT EVER ENTERTAIN DOUBT ABOUT THAT FOR- WHICH YOU HAVE PRAYED FOR ONE MOMENT – STOP IT AT THE DOOR! You need never doubt again about anything. You can overcome all doubt and transform your entire Christian life. You alone hold the key to complete victory. Simply refuse to accept a single doubtful thought which Satan suggests to your mind. “Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
4. NEVER CONFESS DOUBT OF UNBELIEF
Always confess what God’s Word says and hold fast to this in the face of all circumstances which appear to the contrary – for you will receive what you confess. “Death and Life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). Admitting doubt even in a small way will paralyze faith and withhold God’s blessings from you (James 1:6-7). Absolutely refuse to confess doubt, defeat, unbelief, or anything of a negative nature. The reason for this is clear – for “a merry heart naked a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” (Prov. 15:13) Confessing doubt invites a spirit of depression and defeat. Satan attacks the mind with thoughts of doubt and unbelief seeking thereby to destroy your peace and joy in the Lord – for he knows”…the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10).
One of the greatest sources of weakness, failure, unanswered prayer, and defeat is your own tongue. The confession of doubt is your own admission that you are defeated and Satan is the victor! Truly “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Adopt the “vocabulary” of faith. Never allow yourself to use negative or doubtful expressions of speech.
5. REFUSE TO LISTEN TO THE DOUBTS OF OTHERS
Listening to the doubts, disbelief, skepticism, and uncertainty of others can undermine and weaken your faith. Never discuss the problems which you have committed to the Lord, or God’s promises you have claimed by faith, with those who do not believe God positively answers every prayer of faith based upon His Word. For example, if, by faith, you have claimed bodily healing, Satan often uses the unbelief and skepticism of others to implant doubts in your heart. Many of Satan’s tares are sown just this way and the seed of God’s Word is choked and it becomes unfruitful.
It is possible also to forfeit healing once obtained by faith if we allow doubt to affect our faith. A man healed of cancer of the hip by faith was later stricken by cancer of the stomach and died because he listened to the doubts of his fellow church members who denied the validity of divine healing for today! Answer doubt with faith. But do not linger arguing with doubters, for it is Satan speaking through them seeking to overthrow your faith.
6. LIVE A LIFE OF PRAISE UNTO GOD
Praise is one of the most effective weapons against the enemy the believer possesses. There is nothing that will banish Satan with his lies more quickly than praise and song. The Devil will flee if you command him, but he will also flee if you praise God! He refuses to stay around the Christians who continually praise God! Praise stills the enemy (Psalms 8:2). Praise covers you with a protective garment which the spirit of depression, doubt, and heaviness cannot penetrate. The spirit of joy and praise is one of the benefits purchased for us at Calvary (Isaiah 61:1-3). Israel once overcame her enemies with song and praise unto the Lord without a weapon being used and without a fight. So can you! Read II Chronicles 2O. Also read Psalms 69:30-31, Psalms 50:23, Psalms 34:1, Psalms 35:28 and Hebrews 13:15.
7. HAVE A DISCIPLINED LIFE OF STUDY AND PRAYER
The most effective remedy for doubt is a close walk with God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) “…desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.” (I Peter 2:2) Prayer is also the means of “…building up yourselves on the most holy faith.” (Jude 20) A close fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis will insure a victorious Christian life.
Finally, therefore, resist doubts like you would any other temptation to sin. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Never open the door to doubt, and faith will take its place. The two never exist together; – if one is present the other is absent. The choice is yours. Which will it be? Faith or Doubt?
(The above material was published by Jim Kaseman Ministries.)
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