7 Life Lessons From Biblical Figures + Remedies for Feeling Like a Failure

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

The Bible gives us accounts of several biblical figures and the result of their actions and decisions while raising their children.

 

We can learn lessons from our biblical ancestors. We can discern wisdom from their choices and the consequences of their decisions, whether good or bad.

4 Ways to Conquer the Serpent of Doubt in the Garden of our Minds

 

 

by Barbara Latta @barbaralatta

I love spring and summer because I don’t like to be cold. But warmer weather entices the creeps, which means snakes in the woods, to venture out. They slither through yards and gardens and no matter how beneficial some of them may be, I simply do not like these critters. Because the present season now allows me to plant flowers and vegetables, I constantly peer through every blade of grass on the lookout for something crawling toward me.

The serpent that appeared to Eve in the Garden of Eden wasn’t scary because fear didn’t exist yet and this snake apparently was a beautiful creature at that time. Eve conversed with this reptile as if talking to a snake was no big deal. Rather than acting surprised that she heard a voice, she conversed with a serpent.  

Adam and Eve fellowshipped with God and He gave them everything they needed for physical enjoyment and nourishment. They lacked nothing.

Then the subtle creature appeared with lies and deception.

Whispered words through the leaves of a tree that held beautiful, tasty food.

The words that went into Eve’s mind caused her to doubt the words her Creator had said.

She saw the fruit, she touched the fruit, and she believed the lie. She took a bite and mankind fell. All because of doubt.

Because the first people God created sinned, Jesus had to come to earth and fix what they messed up. Satan also appeared to the Son of God and tempted Him in a wilderness. Jesus had no resources except the Word of God. Scripture overcame doubt for Him.

Adam and Eve lived in a perfect environment with every need met. God had given His Word but they didn’t believe Him. They submitted to emotions and their beautiful garden fell into chaos and also affected the rest of mankind. All they needed to do was the same thing Jesus did. Repeat what God said and the snake would have disintegrated.

We face the same battles our predecessors in Eden did and the same ones our Savior endured. Thorns of doubt sneak in and wrap around the mind like a python and squeeze our thoughts in confusion with every suggestion from the enemy.

We will never experience the same spiritual agony our Savior did in Gethsemane, but doubt produces the pain of unbelief. Unbelief cuts away the intimacy with our Father and we are vulnerable to temptation.

What can we do when the same slithery creep appears in our thoughts? 

These 4 steps can help us conquer the serpent in the garden of our minds.

1. Think Good Thoughts – We can’t entertain doubtful thoughts and expect to walk in faith.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

When a thought of doubt enters our minds, we need to immediately replace the thought with what God said. Writing down Scripture gives easy and quick access to answers.

2. Thank God for His promises – God doesn’t lie, and He keeps His promises. He has kept his promises since the beginning. Any failures have been on the refusal of humans to follow Him.

Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:17-18)

3. Take Time to Study the Word – Doubt creeps in when we are weak and hungry. When we are physically hungry, we are physically weak. The same is true in the soulish realm. When we have neglected our Bible study time, we are weak and vulnerable to temptation.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

4.  Trust God’s Truth  – Revive our hearts with the truth about God and we can be set free. Media and opinions that flow around us can sway our hearts if we don’t adhere to what God said as absolute truth.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

No matter what season we are in, spiritual snakes will continue to harass us. Our ability to resist the forked tongue of unbelief depends upon our appetite for the correct food. Not the food of disobedience like Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, but the food from the tree of life given only by Christ.

What are some of your favorite Scriptures to feed on when temptation to question God’s Word threatens your mind? 

 4 ways to conquer the serpent of doubt in the garden of our minds (click to tweet)

What If You Were the Only Person on Earth?

What if you were the last person on earth?

by Barbara Latta

If you were the only person on earth, what would you do?

One day while reading the creation story in Genesis, it occurred to me that when God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden every day, they were the only people on the planet. You may be thinking, “Well, duh!”

But to ponder that fact for a moment brings up the question, what did they talk about?

Have You Ever Doubted God?

 by Barbara Latta

I don’t like snakes, but I know people who do. They like snakes because these people are experts and know the nature of the reptile. This knowledge keeps the handler from getting

caught off guard by any attacks.

Adam and Eve were placed in a perfect environment. God walked and talked with them and gave the couple everything they needed for physical enjoyment and nourishment. They lacked nothing.

Then a snake appeared.

Yes, God had created the snake also, but it wasn’t created as a deceiver. Satan entered the animal. Adam and Eve had walked and talked with God and should have been familiar

Have you ever doubted God?

enough with His nature to recognize a voice that was not His. They were caught off guard by the attack because they didn’t listen to the voice of God.

Subtlety, lies, deception. Whispered words through the leaves of a tree that held luscious food.

The voice of doubt was introduced into the Garden. He didn’t come at them as something ugly and scary. The animal was beautiful because when God created snakes they weren’t slithering on the ground lying in wait to grab prey. Since the couple had lived in the garden, they had fellowshipped with God. Adam had named all the animals. Mankind was God’s highest creation. His intelligence was beyond what we can comprehend today because sin has degenerated humanity. Maybe Adam and Eve also fellowshipped with the animal kingdom. I often wonder about that because Eve didn’t seem to be surprised that snake was talking to her. But the words he said were different than anything she had heard before.

The words that went into her mind caused her to doubt the words her Creator had said.

Sin began with doubt.

She reached out and took the fruit. She saw it, held it, and believed the lie. She took a bite and mankind fell. All because of doubt.

Adam had the power to cast the snake out of the Garden. God had told the man He made to take dominion and subdue. But because Adam didn’t do that, doubt is the snake that is still in the garden. Doubt didn’t leave the earth but took hold and continues to deceive people.

Have you ever doubted God?

Sin began with doubt.

I have when I worry. Worry means I am not trusting God.

I doubt when I fear. Fear is not of God because fear causes torment.

I doubt when I don’t forgive. Christ has forgiven me, so He has given me the power to forgive others. When I don’t, it means I am doubting His power in me.

When I get angry, I am doubting God’s power to give me self-control.

The voice of doubt will say, “Maybe my kids will stray, maybe we won’t have our needs met; if God loved me this bad thing wouldn’t have happened.” The voice of doubt plants seeds to cause us to stray from our heavenly Father.

Yes, sin began with doubt and continues as the weapon Satan uses. If he can get us to doubt God’s Word, we fall prey to temptation.

But believing God chases doubt away.

For worry - Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV).

For fear - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

For unforgiveness - Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (Colossians 3:13).

For self-control - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22).

For anger - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:19-20).

For loneliness - I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b).

For provision - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

Our Garden of Eden is the place where our soul fellowships with God. Where He walks with us in the cool of the day and tells us of His love.

When God is in the garden of our soul, the snake leaves and has no power.

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

Doubt is thesnake in the garden (click to tweet)

Sin began withdoubt (click to tweet)

Live a Fear Free Life

by Barbara Latta 

Several years ago my husband and two sons learned to scuba dive. I was never a strong

swimmer and didn’t like having my face in the water.  I didn’t want to learn with them, instead I would rather just watch from the sidelines. But they talked me into taking the course. I was scared, but I also decided I didn’t want fear to rule my life anymore.

It took me longer than usual to finish the class, and I had some bad moments. But that was only because I was so paralyzed with terror I couldn’t function.  Finally, I decided to memorize some scripture and I repeated them to myself every time I was in the water. I succeeded in finishing the course. And more important to me, I overcame my fear because I faced the obstacle and didn’t run away from it.

How do we live fear free?

Focusing on what God says instead of negative news is the first step to preventing fear from controlling our lives. When the constant stream of information going into our brains is full of fear and hopelessness, we feel no options are available. God’s truth supersedes worldly news. And we must remember worldly news always has a secular spin designed to draw listeners to their message.

The beginning of fear

Fear started in the Garden of Eden. When Adam sinned, he hid from God. This was something he had never done before. New emotions were playing in his soul that was foreign to him and he didn’t know what to do. While nothing had changed with God, everything had changed with Adam and Eve. New feelings, experiences, and the way they related to each other came into existence.

Television commercials play on human fear. Medications are advertised to create the fear of contracting a disease so the listener will request the miracle drug from the doctor. Fear of aging will drive customers to the latest wrinkle cream or surgical procedure. Fear of rejection may cause people to compromise values and make wrong decisions so they will be accepted by others. 

When we listen to something other than God, we are hiding from him like Adam and Eve did. We are placing our faith in a voice other than the Almighty. All fear starts with something heard or experienced that is consumed and meditated upon until a seed is formed producing a harvest. Constant meditation on anything produces what is being thought about. My fear of being under water was exacerbated by the continued replaying in my mind a disaster happening.

Overcoming fear

If I had changed my thoughts to successful underwater navigation I would have been mentally practicing the elements I needed to act on. Keeping God’s word before me

reassured my mind of His protection and success. That is the only way I navigated the scuba course and completed it. Later, when I got in the water to dive with my family, I could feel fear rising in me again. I stood on the Word of God to push me forward and wipe out the feelings trying to paralyze me.

Most things we are afraid of never happen. Whatever you are dealing with is real to your mind, but its power over you doesn’t have to be. There is nothing that cannot be overcome with the Word of God. Standing on His promises in faith washes away the fear and brings in the victory.

Feel free to share some experiences that have caused you fear and how you dealt with the situation.