Doubt, Part 3: Independence and Suspicion

We’ve reached our final week discussing doubt and praying for protection and deliverance for our loved ones who struggle.  (if you missed parts 1 and 2, just go back to the posts from the last two weeks)

Here is our chart, once again.  We’ll focus on the last two lines today discussing independence and suspicion.

Independence is a false sense of security in oneself and one’s knowledge.  It is an inability or unwillingness to trust God.  Proverbs 26:12 “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  Essentially, independence is self-importance and self-reliance that essentially makes us a god unto ourselves. Satan’s first big deception was based on this lie. When he tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he said, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”" Genesis 3:5. Ah, being like God, independent and in charge of one’s own destiny. Being like God with no need for support, protection and provision. Independent….and lost. Because we are not like God at all. We are made in His image, yet we are so in need of a Savior. Independence is a lie of the Enemy meant to keep us from the safety of the Savior.

But  Psalm 40:4 says, “ Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!”  Reliance on the Lord is not a weakness, it’s a powerful, spirit-infused strength that combats “principalities and powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness” Ephesians 6:13.  Now that’s security! We must pray that our sons and daughters continually see their need for the Lord and willingly submit themselves to Him. Pray that the lie of independence would be obvious and the yearning for dependence on their Savior would be insatiable.

Suspicion is the final aspect of doubt that we’ll discuss here.  It’s an inability to trust.  It’s a constant questioning and refusal to believe the truth of something.  But John 14:6 tells us, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  And God doesn’t lie…so if what He says is true, we can believe it.  Paul confirms this in Titus 1:2, “ in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” and Hebrews 6:18, “...it is impossible for God to lie…”  He is True.  He is Faithful  We CAN trust Him! We need to pray that our sons and daughters don’t allow doubt to creep in and stir suspicion against the Lord. And if that suspicion arises, that they have spiritual discretion to know whether it’s a warning of the Holy Spirit or a deception of the enemy to pull them from the Lord.

Now, look at the opposite list that contradicts the list of doubts. God gives so many assurances that fight the doubt stirred up by the devil.

Certainty:

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Clarity:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1: 1-5

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Confidence:

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Knowledge:

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;” Proverbs 2:6

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” James 3:17

Reliance:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;” Psalm 1:1-6

Trust:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” Psalm 40:4

Friends, doubt is a scheme of the devil.  He will veil our eyes so that what is true is concealed.  He will  interfere with our understanding so we are confused.  He is the author of doubt, confusion and fear….and too often we risk falling victim to his schemes.  We MUST be in the Word!!  We must know the truth and be able to speak it out to battle against doubt and deception.

Today, let’s pray that God would protect our sons and daughters from the dangers of doubt. Pray that God would make His Truth clear to them in visible, tangible, understandable ways. Pray that, as in Psalm 1, they would not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of the ungodly but that they would pursue Christ only and always.

Friends, only God can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). If God can turn the heart of a King any direction He chooses (Proverbs 21:1), He can certainly turn the heart of our sons and daughters toward Him and guard them against the enemy.

Today, write out a prayer for your sons and daughters that you can pray throughout the week. If you’d be willing to share it, we’d love to read it! Let’s encourage one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s build one another up in our most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20).

Pray without ceasing.