From Pastor's Heart :

Overcoming Doubt

August 30,2018

James 1:6-7 tells us very clearly that if we doubt, we will not be able to receive anything from the Lord. Doubt not only robs us of the blessings of God, but it also hinders us from serving the Lord effectively. Therefore it is vitally important for us to overcome doubt. Thoughts of doubt come primarily from the devil's deception, circumstances, and people. It enters our hearts through what we see, what we hear, and what we feel. The thoughts of doubt, however, lie dormant and die unborn if we do not act on them. Like faith, the effect of doubt is activated through what we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth. Therefore, in order to remove doubt from our lives, we have to change what we believe and what we say.

The first step to overcoming doubt is to actively choose to believe the Word of God over what we can see, hear, and feel. This step is not as difficult as it may sound on the surface because belief is a choice. When Jesus rebuked Thomas for unbelief, He said to him in John 20:29, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Therefore it is possible to believe something even though we do not see or feel it. We have the God-given ability to make choices. We can chose to believe or not to believe. We can chose to believe in the right things and even in the wrong things by an act of our will. We do it throughout our lives without being aware of it. For example, most of us believe what we were taught in grade school and never even question it. We can likewise choose to believe the Word of God without question. And in doing so, we activate the power in the Word.

The second step to overcome doubt is to actively cast down thoughts and images that are contrary to the Word of God (II Corinthians 10:4-5). Again, it is a choice that we can make as an act of our will. There is a saying, "You cannot stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your head." Thoughts will come because the devil can influence our minds, but we can decide whether to keep those thoughts or reject them. The casting down of thoughts becomes easier as we keep the Word in focus. Philippians 4:8 tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things." When our mind is so full of the Word of God, there will be no room for the negative thoughts.

The third step to overcome doubt is to refuse to give voice to doubt. The principle of faith also applies to doubt. The more we say something, the more we will believe it until it is firmly established inside of us. We cannot afford to say whatever we want to say. Our words can either bind us and tear us, or build us up. Proverbs 13:3 tells us, "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction." In other words, we will have destruction if we say whatever we want to say without discretion (Proverbs 18:7), for death and life are in the power of our tongues (Proverbs 18:21). Our mouths creates most of our problems because we do not exercise restraint. Proverbs 21:23 tells us, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles."

Finally, in order to overcome doubt, we must actively confess the promises of God over our circumstances. Faith is released through our words. Our mouth can be a mighty weapon when we fill ourselves with the Word of God and speak it forth with authority. Again and again when the devil came against Jesus, Jesus simply spoke forth the Word of God, "It is written, it is written, and it is written." However, it will do us no good if we do not know what is written and where is it written. We must take time to know the Word of God for ourselves. By filling our hearts and mouths with the Word, we can drive out all doubt and strengthen our faith.