So very often, we feel the most insecure when we fail (of course).  And we feel “let down” by God when we ask Him for help and perceive that He didn’t help us in whatever we asked of Him.  However, do we consider that, perhaps, there might be some unconfessed sin that is stopping His power from reaching us?  Acts 2:28 and 2:41 are examples. 

Questions for further thought:
1. Are you lacking some security in God you need today?
2. Is there any unconfessed sin you need to give to Him first?

​Challenge: Make no mistake, God wants us to be secure in His power and love.  But He also wants us to confess sin to Him because He wants nothing separating us from Him when He generously and graciously gives of His power to smother us in His love and concern.  So, get that sin to Him and confess it, and then bask securely in His perfect love and will for you. 

The opposite of Gideon (from yesterday) is ironically the Apostles in Luke 22:62. The inverse of appropriate humility is arrogance.  And Peter had it in spades.  If only Peter had humbled himself the same way he did when he recognized Jesus as the Messiah.  The Last Supper proved that we should never, ever, rely upon our own power for anything, or we’ll feel as guilty as Peter did.  

Questions for further thought:
1. Have you sometimes “bit off more than you can chew?”
2. Have you had consequences that flowed from that bit of (perhaps unintentional) arrogance?

​Challenge: Life itself is a challenge, presenting endless opportunities for doubts about ourselves, and numerous failures.  Let’s pray not to compound that by being arrogant in our abilities.  Even if you think “I have this,” remember to be humble and call on Him to give you strength for any task, regardless.  

​“I’m inadequate!” “You need someone else!” Moses. Isaiah.  And in this passage from Judges 6:15, Gideon.  He was from the same tribe (Benjamin) as Saul was, and he felt inadequate.  And don’t we often feel the exact same way?  Yet, really, why do we doubt the Lord of Heaven when He chooses us for whatever purpose He chooses?  Who is right?

Questions for further thought:
1. Why do we instinctively doubt ourselves in things we do?  
2. Are those doubts rooted in truth, or in a distortion, of our own abilities and strengths?

​Challenge: Remember that Gideon (among others) truly thought he wasn’t “cut out” for the work God called Him to.  And he wasn’t… by himself.  However, he should’ve remembered that God “qualifies the called, not calls the qualified.”  We should remember: the Lord called us for something that HE equipped us to do, not by our own strength.  So, try not to doubt your abilities for that which He calls you to say, be, or do.  The Lord knows best. And He is always right (and He wouldn’t set us up to fail, anyway).  Amen?

People do judge others based upon appearances.  This is as long as human history has been. And people are often insecure because of those (perceived) inadequacies. But God told Samuel that that is not how we should judge people.  1 Samuel 16:6-7 argues the exact opposite.

Questions for further thought:
1. Have you ever felt judged by others because of a perceived inadequacy of appearance?
2. How have you contrasted that feeling by how God sees you?  If so, how often?

​Challenge: Remember that God sees you as you truly are.  He created you, and He knows your inmost essences better than you do yourself, much less other people.  So, remember that if you are living with a distorted view of yourself, it is, in fact, distorted and untrue.  Take this day to pray that God lets you see yourself as He does.

People often ask, “Who are you?” when they first meet someone.  And oftentimes, people ask themselves (looking in the mirror), “Who are you?”  It’s a natural instinct.  People have ultimately wanted to know who and why they are since time immemorial.  Our purpose is among the greatest questions in our lives, and it deserves to be asked and answered.  Ephesians 2:10 tells us who we really are.

Questions for further thought:
1. Do you ever think about who and why you are the way you are?
2. Do you see yourself the same way that God sees you?

​Challenge: Try to imagine looking at yourself through God’s eyes.  Think about how He sees you each and every day.  Then, compare that vision – more true than your own – with how you see yourself on certain days.  If you doubt who’s right – about you or anyone else – pray to Him who made you, and you should have a better answer than your own.  

Christ died for our sins, in our place, so we would not have to suffer the punishment we deserve. This is called substitutionary atonement. The punishment for our sin was taken by Christ in His crucifixion and His subsequent resurrection was proof that is was enough; was truly “Finished”! First Peter 2:24 talks about His sacrifice for us. However, there is a part of the verse that is rarely talked about. Specifically, where it says “… so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” Repentance (turning from sin) and Returning (turning toward Christ) are necessary pieces to kill doubt and fire up faith. Romans 8:1 enthusiastically proclaims, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” When I read that, it is hard for my doubts to take hold. What a gracious and merciful God we serve!!

Questions for further thought:
1. Do you doubt, even though you have plenty of evidence?
2. How can you overcome this?  

Challenge: Jesus’ restoration of Peter is an amazing example of the love available to sinners in the Gospel. Pray for those who need to be encouraged by God’s restoring love, and ask God how He wants to use you to provide that encouragement.

The message of faith permeates not only Hebrews 11, but the entire New Testament. You’ll find faith on every page and in every story. Every step with God is a step of faith. Every lesson learned is a lesson of faith. Every victory won is a victory by faith. Genuine followers of Christ trust God and exercise active confidence in Him. They believe His Word and act on it no matter if they doubt or how they feel, because He promises a good result. When we exercise our faith, we have forward spiritual momentum. When we let our faith atrophy, we lose ground and fall away from Him. Which begs the question—assuming you have faith in God, how do you increase it? Paul gives a clear answer. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Mystery solved! That’s what increases faith: the Bible. Faith grows by hearing the Word of God. Let’s close our computers, put down the devices, and start logging more time in His Book!

Questions for further thought:
1. What would a spiritual thermometer indicate about your faith? Was there a time it would have indicated a higher level? How different was the level of your exposure to God’s Word at the time?
2. How can you increase your faith through additional time in the Bible?

Challenge: Commit to reading your Bible every day for a week. Watch God work through your willingness to learn who He is and to be used by Him!

The enemy of our souls can use doubt and lies to get us to sin. Satan started this scheme way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve. He created doubt when he asked in Genesis 3:1 “Did God actually say…?” He tried to use the same tactics on Jesus in Matthew 4:6 as he quotes Scripture out of context trying to get Jesus to take the bait. However, Jesus has a secret weapon at His disposal and we would do well to take note of it. He quotes the Word of God back to Satan and ultimately stops the enemy dead in his tracks. Regular Bible reading and prayer will ultimately get the Word into you, so that even if you don’t have a Bible with you, you will be able to combat the schemes of the enemy.

Questions for further thought:
1. In what ways are you reading your Bible every day?
2. If not, what is your plan to put this into action?

Challenge: Jesus recognizes that belief isn't easy or simple. Jesus will offer you evidence if you ask. Pray for the wisdom to believe in the work that Jesus did for you. Search Scripture for the clues you need.

I would argue that this passage about loving our enemies is one of the easiest to proclaim, but, if we’re honest, one of the hardest things to practice consistently. This has led to many turning away from Jesus and His teaching as it is too hard. Again, this is Jesus reinforcing our predicament of not being able to keep these commands strictly in our own power. He is saying that we should pray for our enemies and love them with an unearthly love. He knows this is a complete impossibility without the power of His Holy Spirit living within us. If you love your enemies and treat them well, you can truly show Jesus is Lord of your life. By loving and praying for our enemies, which in human strength is utterly impossible, we show the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and can overcome evil with good.

Questions for further thought:
1. In verse 48 Jesus talks about being perfect? How can we do that?
2. If we cannot on our own, what hope can we point to?

Challenge: Pray this prayer and wait expectantly. Father, thank You for being kind and loving to us, even when we have doubts. Guide us and help us when it feels easier to walk away from You than to lean into You. Please show us anything we are believing as truth that isn’t actually true of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Oh, impulsive Peter. The leader in so many outstanding ways, yet in others, so extremely impulsive, choosing not to look before he leaps. However, isn’t that the reality of the Christian life? We are not able to do this perfectly and quite honestly Jesus is quite ok with that, I suspect. Peter was not putting Jesus to the test. Instead, he was the only one to truly react in faith. Faith is simply trusting and believing in the object of that faith. Peter was demonstrating his true faith in Jesus, while doing so a bit impulsively. What happened next was an amazing demonstration of God’s power for his benefit and for ours. Through Jesus, God continues to help people at their points of need, not because of anything within ourselves that makes us worthy, but because He is a gracious and merciful God who delights in helping those in need.

Questions for further thought:
1. What truths about Jesus’ character could help you see his question to Peter as an invitation rather than an accusation?
2. How do you typically handle doubt? What would it look like to use that doubt as a tool to grow your faith in Christ?

Challenge: Take some time to reflect about beliefs you’ve either questioned in the past or are currently questioning. How do you identify what’s true and what’s untrue?