Doubters

Have you ever doubted since you became a believer?  All down through the ages there have been doubters such as Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples.  This man walked with Jesus and was part of Jesus’ earthy ministry.  It was from this man that we get the phrase, ‘doubting Thomas,’ that we have heard of so often.  There were many others that doubted; such as Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Zacharias, Sarah and most of the Israelites plus so many more.

How many have prayed for a while for something that didn’t take place and doubt started to set in and they have given up praying for that particular need?  Doubt is the opposite of faith and is the reason many prayers don’t get answered although it is not the only reason.  It says this in James 1:5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

If we pray and ask the Lord for anything, we need to believe that we will receive it and not let doubt hinder our prayers.  That is true and some people may make this sound like it is easy to always pray with faith, but I think it is easy to doubt and that most of us have been there even if we won’t admit it.  Doubt is to be uncertain about something, hesitant, a feeling of uncertainty about the truth which can cause fear and distrust.  What do you think would happen if every believer fully trusted God’s Word without wavering?  

Most believers know what the Word says about faith and what it is according to Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Like I said, most believers know what the Word says about faith and prayer but have you ever prayed and thought it was a mighty prayer of faith but it wasn’t answered to your expectations?  I have had this happen and it was very discouraging but it didn’t cause me to stop praying.

Read what Jesus said about faith to His disciples in Matthew 21:18-22, “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ Immediately the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither away so soon?’

So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’”

Even when faith is present, the will of God must be spoken.  There have been many selfish prayers spoken; prayers that may hinder the person praying or hurt somebody else so you can’t expect those prayers to be answered even if faith is present.  You have to be sure you pray the will of the Lord.

Think of the prayer we call the Lord’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13:

“In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus also prayed this in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:37-44:

“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.’

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.’ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.

So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”

If Jesus thought it was important for Him to pray that way, we need to be praying the will of God also.  In order to pray successfully we need to know what the will of the Lord is and that takes studying the Word and hearing the Word.  There are some prayers that are always the Lord’s will and one is the prayer for salvation of the lost.  

He also said to His people in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”   

We also should pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Jewish people and their salvation.  We can pray for deliverance and healing along with other things we know would be God’s will.  What we never should do, is give up on prayer, God is willing to listen to the prayers of His people.  Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!