Doubt or Faith

 

 

 

 

Doubt hinders us from receiving God’s promises. If we could understand the source of doubt, walking by faith and not sight would be easier.

 

Doubt has nothing to do with the spiritual. It comes from the flesh. Doubt relates to our senses, natural reasoning, and memory. God’s kind of faith is spiritual. It surpasses what we feel or reason. When we struggle with faith to believe God’s promises, we are actually struggling with our senses and feelings. Faith can be quickly extinguished when we give our senses and emotions power. 

 

When Jesus called to Peter to walk on the water, Peter initially believed in Jesus’ word to “come” (Matthew 14:29). If Peter had remained focused on Jesus’ word, he would not have begun to sink. But Peter became aware of his circumstances. The spiritual promise of Jesus’ word was lost when Peter lost his focus. His senses overpowered him, and faith vanished.

 

“And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt’” (Matthew 14:31)?

 

God instructs us to live by and in the Spirit (Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:25). He tells us that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). But many don’t live in the Spirit. Many are too aware of their circumstances, feelings, and reasoning. Many think they believe God’s Word, but, in reality, they are just “hoping” faith will work for them. They don’t trust faith to work. 

 

What is the answer? 

 

“….Purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8). 

 

The heart is the source of faith or doubt. It chooses to believe God’s Word or the circumstances.

 

We will remain in doubt as long as we live by our senses, nourish our feelings, continually dwell on our circumstances, and allow our natural minds to reason God’s Word. James 1:7-8 says a double-minded man is unstable. He doesn’t know what he believes. He can’t expect to receive from the Lord. We can hinder the promises of God in our lives.

 

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

 

Guard your heart. You must nourish your spirit man daily and starve your senses, feelings, negativity, and unbelief. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen in your natural circumstances (Hebrews 11:1). Faith sees God’s truth in the spiritual realm. It sees things that aren’t as though they are. 

 

Don’t doubt. Believe by faith. God’s Word is enough. 

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/09/doubt-or-faith.html