Doubt, Fear & Anxiety are all spirits that work together to paralyze Christians emotionally and spiritually, so that the work of Christ in and through their lives will cease or be hindered.

What does it mean to doubt? To doubt is to feel uncertain about something, or to suspect someone or something is not trustworthy. Doubt can be caused by a Lying spirit which fuel many strongholds.  Many people believe that doubt and unbelief are synonymous, but doubt is not total unbelief.  Unbelief is the absence of faith and doubt is a state of mind that falls between faith and unbelief.  One should never dismiss doubt, for it could lead to unbelief if it is not dealt with. Doubt comes into your life with a simple thought from Satan (the father of lies – John 8:44). When you begin to doubt God and His power in your life, you become doubled minded (having a Mind-Binding spirit), and the foundation of your faith is shaken. Once this happens you are vulnerable to spirits of Fear and Anxiety.

Fear is “False Evidence Appearing Real”; it’s a manifestation of the kingdom of darkness. The foundation of fear can be doubt or a lying spirit.  Fear is a powerful spirit Satan often uses to consume the thoughts and control the mind.   Fear will torment and punish you, and the worst thing is, you do it to yourself; It is self-induced misery.  Whenever we fear something, we give that which we fear power over us. The more fear we have, the more power Fear has over us.  Once Fear creeps in, it becomes the foundation for Anxiety.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or nervousness typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.  Anxiety cannot survive without the support of Fear, which has made you unstable. Anxiety can become so severe that it can lead to panic attacks.  Once you get rid of doubt, it will be easier to get rid of fear and anxiety.

Acknowledging that it is the Lord that supplies all weapons of warfare, let’s identity four areas in your life that need to change to remove Doubt and Fear:

 

Have Faith -The word of God says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). No matter how much you ask God, without faith, He may not answer your prayers. You must believe that God will answer your prayers no matter how long it takes for it to happen. What you do not see in the natural does not negate what is happening in the spiritual. There is a purpose for God’s timing that you may not understand. You must trust that while you are waiting, He is,

  • lining up all the right people and blessings for your life, and
  • putting in place those that contribute or that are impacted by your blessing.

Our Father tells us that when we doubt, we are “like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). Jesus said to his disciples   “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,”’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.  Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” (Mark 11:23-24).

Think about how you respond to your prayers and situations when you have doubt. One minute you tell yourself that God is going to answer your prayer or change the situation, the next minute you become anxious and worried. This is a Mind-Binding spirit that tags along with the Spirt of Doubt. You are being tossed around from one emotion to the next allowing yourself to be played with like a puppet. Does this bring you closer to your blessing? Does it make God respond any faster? He tells us,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6, 7).

When you become anxious and that mind-binding spirit raises its ugly head, in confidence tell it to go (resist the devil and he will flee-James 4:7), because you have chosen to trust God and you will not be wavered.

 

Believe that God Hears you when you Pray – How many times have you wondered if God truly hears you? Do you sometimes wonder if God is ignoring you? You need to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Have I ever prayed for something and later on thanked God for not giving me what I asked for?
    • I have. God knows what is best for you. He knew that it was not what you needed. Would you give your children everything they asked for? As a parent you have the right and the obligation to say “No” when you know it is not best for them. There is a purpose for “No”. You must trust that He will always do what is best for you.
  • Am I asking for something that is God’s will for my life?
    • For example, the Bible tell us that it is His will that we “prosper and be in good health”. If it is in His will, it just may not be the right time for what you are asking. If you are praying for something that is not addressed in the Bible (for, example, what school should I attend), He may answer you through some other source or circumstance.
  • Is there something hindering my relationship with God? Is there sin in my life?
    • Psalms 66:18 says “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear”. And Matthew 6:15 says “if we do not forgive others He will not forgive us”.As you develop your relationship with the Lord and spend time in prayer, it will become easier to hear God’s answers to your prayers and receive direction for your life. For years I had been praying for something and when I had just about given up hope, He told me, “YES, but not right now”. He had probably spoken to me sooner but I did not hear him.

Don’t devalue who you are in Christ – Sometimes we doubt because we do not feel worthy.

  • You may believe that you cannot go before Him in prayer because of past sins? Read 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is no sin that will not be forgiven.
  • If God takes care of the birds – how much more will he do for you? Are you not of more value than they are (Matthew 6:26)? If God has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), do you truly believe He is not with you?
  • He tells us in Galatians 4:7 “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”. God has received you, filthy rags and all. It is time for you to fully receive Him. Satan knows that the only way he can keep you from the promises and blessings of God is to keep lying to you until you believe him and not God. Ask yourself, “Who is my master”?

 

Speak Life Not Death – The Old and New Testaments tell us there is power in the words we speak; that our words carry spiritual power. It says in Matthew 12:37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” When you allow doubt in your life you begin to speak it. This is when the enemy hears your negativity and uses your own words against you. Soon you believe the negative words and thoughts in your mind. Always speak positive even when the outlook is bleak. Remember, the definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

When you allow Doubt into your life, not only does Fear and Anxiety follow, but your mind is now open to Confusion, Worry, Nervousness, Phobias, Terror, Depression…just to name a few. Never doubt the love and protection from God. Renew your relationship with Him with prayer and thanksgiving.

 

Prayer

Father, You answered the prayers of Elijah with fire. I ask that you answer me with fire, in the name of Christ Jesus. I dismiss and disband from my heart every thought or image of failure in my life.  I recognize that You are more than worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise. I thank You for all that small and big blessings and ask forgiveness for not acknowledging all that You have done.   Today, I renew my allegiance and my vows to You and pray for the manifestation of my breakthroughs, in the name of Christ Jesus.  I pray You would strengthen my faith and show me every way Satan is distorting the truth. I choose not to be conformed to this world, but choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. May I prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Father, I take my place with Jesus in the heavenlies and declare by faith that all wicked spirits and Satan himself are under my feet. I reject every spirit of doubt, fear, anxiety and discouragement and cancel them from my life in the name of Christ Jesus. Because the blood of Jesus covers me, Satan has no power over my life or anything that pertains to me. Today, I claim the victory You gave me over my life and surrender myself to You as a living sacrifice.

Thank You Father for loving me and for the victory that I will receive.

In Jesus Name Amen.

 

Dee Bowers -ETM Director of Deliverance