A single question plants a seed of doubt, and that doubt can lead to a derailed life missing the mark for which it was destined. We have an enemy in this life and his best attacks are questions. You need to be aware of the danger of his questions and be ready to respond with your truth. If you’re not, then honey you may just be stuck in a downward spiral of disappointment with no hope of things ever changing. Listen to me … it doesn’t have to be that way!

The devil showed up as a snake in the paradise called the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were living in bliss, enjoying all God had created for them and in comes the slithering snake. He doesn’t come in with a deadly attack, he slithers his way in with just a question. He asked Eve, “Did God really say that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”(Genesis 3:1)

The question seems so harmless, but it lead to a conversation. Listen to me, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVIL! He asked Eve a question, Eve engaged with a reply. This question led to doubt and a twist of the truth, then the next thing you know Eve is eating the fruit God told her not to eat, sin entered the world and screwed everything up. The fall of mankind all began with a question from the enemy. Question plants a seed of doubt, and that doubt led to a derailed life missing the potential it was created for.

So, surprise surprise my sister … that slimy snake is still slithering around attacking with his greatest weapon … a question. His question makes you doubt who you are. It makes you doubt your value and worth. It makes you doubt your purpose in this world. It makes you doubt your ability. It makes you doubt your future.

And here we are responding to the question with a full-blown conversation, just like we were never supposed to do. We’re still doing it! We’re entertaining the doubt and stacking up evidence to support the attack. The enemy whispers “who are you, you aren’t enough,” and we engage in a conversation of agreement. You’re right, I’m not enough. Everything I start, I give up on. I never finish anything. I’m nothing but a failure. I’ll never change. There’s something wrong with me. I’m broken. Everyone else is better than me. I just can’t do it. I’m sleepy. I have no energy. I have no support. It’s too hard for me.

And girl, you just talked yourself into a total derailment of the good plans God has for you!

So sister, we need a new game plan. Look around in your life … do you see how the questions have caused you to doubt, shrink back, and play little in your own life? Do you see how the enemy has been stealing what was yours? Well it’s time to take it back, and thankfully God gave us a clear battle plan.

James 4:7 “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” But today we need it in the strong and real language of the Message translation. Listen to this “Shout a loud NO to the devil and watch him scamper!”

NO Devil! NO your lies will not be entertained here! NO your questions will not cause doubt in my life! NO I don’t believe a word you say! Just NO!

Shut down that conversation and mental chatter. Don’t play out the scenarios of negativity and defeat. That’s not God’s plan for you. That’s the plan of the enemy and he knows if he can get in your head, he can sneak into every area of your life. Shout a loud NO when he shows up with his questions!

Doubt is deadly. Eve engaged in conversation with the enemy and began to doubt what God had told her. Why could she not eat from this one tree? What would happen if she did? Was God keeping something great from her? Would this apple change her life?

And my guess is the enemy has slithered his way into your life and asked a few questions. Those questions have left you doubting if you’re enough. Doubting your value and worth. Doubting if God really hears your prayers and really cares enough to answer. Doubting if you are loved. Doubting if what you have within is good enough to do what needs to be done.

NO! We are shouting a loud no to the devil here. End of conversation. NO!

He’s a liar from hell, he doesn’t get to plant his deadly seeds of doubt. Don’t you welcome him in and let him parade through your mind for one more moment. Slimy sucker … you and your lies are out!

The battle begins with a question. And we all see how we’ve been under attack with the questions. Do you want victory here? Are you ready to rise up and be the champion you were created to be? Here’s how … TRUTH!

VICTORY COMES WITH TRUTH.

You need to know the truth about who God says you are, his plans for you, and the hope for your future. This is your route to victory. For the next few days I will be throwing down some ‘Daily Truths’. Truths that dispel the questions that have been rocking your world and causing you to doubt.

Today’s Truth: God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

That fear is not from God. He’s not a dealer of fear and doubt. Recognize where it comes from. Fear holds you back in uncertainty and renders you incapable of the next step. Fear leaves you stuck. Fear has you fighting threats that most times aren’t even real, so they’re impossible to defeat.

NO Devil, I will no longer lay down and cuddle with fear. I will no longer replay the fear driven scenarios in my head. You’re no longer my go-to. I’m not turning to you any longer. My decisions will not be influenced by you. I’m better than that!

Why? Because God has given me a spirit of POWER. I’m not helpless or hopeless. There is power dwelling inside of me. God’s power that breaks chains, parts seas and moves mountains is now living inside of me. I can change. I can get better. I can survive. I can handle this. I have power and I’m rising up to use it, darn it.

God has given me a spirit of love. I don’t have to grow cynical and hardened. I can endure the hardship, I can take the insults, I can survive the attacks, and I can come out better because I am driven by love. Love trumps all. I am created to be loved and created to be loving. This will not turn me into someone I’m not. I will not lose myself going through this. I have the spirit of love within me and it will be on full display.

God has given me a spirit of self-discipline. Actually, I can overcome bad habits. I can break old chains. I can make changes and stick with those changes. I’m not lacking willpower. I have it within me. It lives in me, now I’m tapping into what has always been there. I can do exactly what I need to do, one day at a time. One choice at a time, I can be trusted to do the next right thing. I can’t control anyone or anything else, but I can control me … and I will!

Those are some TRUTH BOMBS! We just blew some lies up! We just lit the enemy on fire and his attacks were shut down.

Yes, the battle begins with a question. Victory comes with truth.

Remember your truth today. You were not given a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-discipline! BOOM! Anything less than that is playing little when you were created for a BIG Life.

And bonus … today’s truth bomb comes with a theme song! Francesca Battistelli’s “The Breakup Song”

Fear, you don’t own me
There ain’t no room in this story
And I ain’t got time for you
Telling me what I’m not
Like you know me well guess what?
I know who I am
I know I’m strong, brave
And I am free
Got my own identity
So fear, you will never be welcome here