At some point soon, when things are official, I’ll be telling you about some exciting news regarding what I’m working on right now. But for now, suffice it to say that A) it is exciting news! and B) I am going to be extraordinarily busy the next couple of months. I’ll still post once or twice a week throughout the summer, but I’m going to supplement that by introducing some of my writer friends. Every Tuesday I’ll be sharing posts from someone new. I hope you enjoy and I hope these posts resonate with you. Check out their blogs if you feel so inclined… these kinds of guest posts have helped me find some of my favorite writers, so hope they do the same for you :-). Enjoy!

Today I’m honored to share with you a post from my friend Debbie Wilson. If you enjoy it, check out her Bible study mentioned in the bio… someone you know got to design the book cover!

In my book, at the end of chapter 7, I mention the fiery darts that we are inundated with:

My friend Suzanne often talks about the fiery darts that Satan shoots at us. We can’t stop the darts (of accusation, shame, temptation) from coming our way. But we do have a choice—to grab hold of these condemning thoughts and gnaw on them awhile, or to move aside and let them sail on past. Unpleasant memories will jump out at us from time to time. Temptation will come our way. We don’t have to feel guilt when the thoughts flash past—but it’s up to us not to catch them and carry them with us. We can certainly use the darts to our advantage, though, because knowing where we have been, where we are now, what we’ve carried, how far we’ve traveled, and what we’ve learned gives us the ability to pray with fervor and insight for another person.

There’s more, but you’d have to read the whole chapter to make sense of it ;-). And now, here’s what she has to say about it…

5 Tips for Dealing with Doubt

Time was ticking and I had to give my decision. I knew what I wanted. But every time I thought about saying, “no,” doubt assailed me. You’re wimping out. If you had faith you’d say yes.

I thought my doubt was a nebulous feeling that sprang from uncertainty. But, I’ve learned some doubts have a diabolical side.

What feels like paralyzing indecision may be a taunt from the enemy. Just like the devil gave King David the idea to take a census of Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1-3) and Ananias and Sapphira the idea to lie about a gift they gave to the church (Acts 5:3-5), he plants thoughts in our minds too.

Jesus called the devil a liar (John 8:44) and the thief that comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The Bible also says he’s a slanderer and accuser (Revelation 12:10). The better we know Jesus, the better we’re able to identify Satan’s influence.

Have you received emails from friends asking you to send cash to help them because they lost their passports? I have. Even though the emails came from my friends’ accounts, the messages didn’t sound like them. I spotted the hoax because I knew my friends. The better we know someone the less likely we are to be hoodwinked by an impersonation.

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Below is an acronym to help you distinguish between the devil’s darts and your Shepherd’s leading. Protect yourself by learning to recognize the message or intent hidden in your doubts.

DARTS are:

1. Destructive: sent to rob and destroy. Their purpose is to draw us away from God’s good and satisfying will. They push us toward something we feel uneasy about by causing us to doubt the validity of our reservations. Or they pull us away from something good. You’ll offend your neighbor if you invite her to Bible study.

• Jesus’ words bring life and peace.

2. Accusing: condemning, criticizing, and blaming. They tell us how selfish and rebellious we are to want something or how cowardly we are not to do something. The devil misused Scripture when he tempted Jesus. If a verse oppresses you, the enemy is twisting it against you. If you weren’t so—selfish, cowardly, or unforgiving—you’d…

• Jesus never uses guilt, shame, or bullying to motivate us.

3. Rule-oriented: relying on standards for righteousness instead of Jesus’ imputed righteousness. These thoughts tell us if we don’t obey their bullying command then we aren’t being loving or good Christians. For example: Good Christians must always… If you don’t help him how will he ever come to know Christ?

• Jesus reminds us that our righteousness is found in Christ, not in our performance.

4. Tempting: offering ways to meet your needs apart from God. People will respect you if…or Hurry, you’ll miss out.”

• Jesus infuses us with courage to stand alone, to wait, to be still and know.

5. Slanderous: maligning the character of God, other people, or yourself. God doesn’t care about you. Or, Your spouse is so stubborn.

• Jesus reminds us that He is with us, for us, interceding, and guiding. His Spirit bears witness with ours that we belong to Him and empowers us with love and patience.

When God showed me the nature of my doubts, I was able to say “no,” with confidence. The next time you’re faced with confusion, ask yourself, “Is this legitimate doubt or a diabolical dart?” Then follow your Shepherd with confidence.

Bio: Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman who has experienced an extraordinary God. She is the author of Give Yourself a Break: Discover the Secrets to God’s Rest. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and four decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie speaks and writes to help believers discover relevant faith. She and her husband, Larry, founded Lighthouse Ministries of Raleigh, NC in 1991. Visit her blog at www.debbiewwilson.com.