WHEN YOU DOUBT...

The devil is subtle, deceptive, and sly;

he's clever and tricks us to swallow his lie.

But his cunning methods we're sure to discern,

by making God's warnings our daily concern.

--D. De Haan

    Do you ever wonder if the Bible can be trusted? Scottish reformer John Knox confessed that he passed through a dark time when his soul was filled with "anger, wrath, and indignation, which it conceived against God, calling all His promises in doubt." 

     Do you sometimes wonder if God exists? The staunchest of Puritans, Increase Mather, wrote in his diary that he was "greatly molested with temptations to atheism." 

    Are you ever so filled with questions that you feel at times like an unbeliever? Martin Luther admitted, "For more than a week Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy against God." 

    Don't be surprised if you pass through similar struggles. As followers of Christ, we are in conflict with God's enemy, the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44). We wrestle against him and "the rulers of the darkness of this age" (Ephesians 6:12). Two of the pieces of armor God has provided for us when we are attacked by doubt are "truth" and "the shield of faith." They can "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one" (vv. 14-16). 

    As we saturate our minds with God's Word, our faith will be strengthened. Then we'll be able to stand when doubts assail us. --Vernon Grounds

[The best protection against Satan's lies is to know God's truth.]

Ephesians 6:10-20 (NIV)

Provided by BibleGateway.com

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

(SoldierForLordJesusChrist.com & Soldier's Facebook)