DAY #3: Dealing with Doubt | June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”

Monday, June 03, 2024 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

June 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Renewing the Mind”

DAY #3: Dealing with Doubt

Devotional reading from “Winning the Battle for Your Mind,” Chapter Two ~ A Biblical View of Human Nature

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Today's Lesson:

Luke 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Having doubts is one of the normal factors of being a person, comprised of spirit, soul, and body, Doubt is defined as: A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

There are things we know that are true, but we find that doubts may arise. Even Jesus’ disciples had doubts about seeing Jesus after He had risen from the dead. He looked different than how they remembered Him before his death, so their doubt was understandable. Jesus proved to the disciples that we was indeed the same person.

One of the lessons we learn from this story is: How things appear is not the only evidence we trust. Having been made in God’s Triune image, we reflect His creative act in three dimensions. Our spirit is the most fundamental part of us all. In reality, we are a spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body. Since God is a spirit, and we are made in His image, then we must also be spiritual beings.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians. 5:23)

Understanding our makeup as spirit, soul, and body helps our faith. Some things are “temporal” (temporary) and other things are eternal (permanent).

2 Corinthians 4:18, While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal

It is normal to doubt some of the things we see and feel. We should use our intelligence and investigate things surrounding our natural lives. Based on our growing relationship with God and knowledge of the word of God, we learn to trust God. We grow to learn that God is not the one to doubt. As Jesus said, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Doubts arise from being uncertain about the trustworthiness of God. It is not very much different than a relationship with your spouse or a friend. The closer you draw to another person, the better you know him/her and the more you trust them.

My wife and I have been married for 45 years. We completely trust one another and have no doubts about one another––of course understanding that we are not infallible like God.

A preacher from many years ago had a saying: “Feed your faith and starve your doubts.”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What doubts do you have about God and the Word of God. (It is always good to be honest with yourself and with God)

2. How is your spirit different than your soul? Where do doubts come from?

3. What steps will you take to reduce doubt? How will you "feed your faith?"

ACTION ITEMS (What I will do with what I have learned):

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Get Your Copy of the Book:

“Winning the Battle for Your Mind”