ManageYourEmotionsBook8.5x5.5_RevJULY.indd

several great sopranos of his day. “And 10,000 altos and 10,000 ten- ors,” once again listing some of his era’s greatest singers. “It is going to be tremendous.” “But Mr. President,” someone asked, “What about the basses?” “Oh,” said he with a laugh, “I’m going to sing bass!” 3 That’s the kind of confidence that overpowers and obliterates doubt, provided it’s centered on Christ and not self. Note that this confidence also promises a great reward. Whether in this life or the one to come, abundance is pledged by God to those who remain faithful to Him. Ditch doubt, and claim these powerful words from Paul’s pen: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Finally, we win the war with doubt by way of obedience. Why should we be surprised by doubt if we’re walking in disobedi- ence? Adam and Eve lived blissfully until they partook of the fruit. After that, they saw their nakedness and hid, afraid of God. Gifted, tall, and handsome, King Saul served as Israel’s first King. Demanded by the people, chosen by God, and anointed by the Spirit, he started out well. But then, in the wake of repeated acts of disobedience, confusion, paranoia, and jealousy consumed him. Worst of all, the Spirit of God left him and an evil spirit took over (1 Samuel 16:14). In the wake of Saul’s debacle, Samuel said, ‘To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). In contrast to Saul’s behavior is that of Mary, the mother of Jesus.When the angel Gabriel announced that, despite her being a virgin, she would give birth to the Savior of the world, she respond- ed, “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Christ said, “Not everyone who says to Me,‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21). Doing God’s will requires obedience, one of the keys to desisting doubt. One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to escape to the roof.With arms outstretched, his father yelled from the ground below, “Jump! I’ll catch you,” realizing this was his boy’s

6