Got Feelings?
December 2013
"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives." Galatians 5:25 NLT
“If you would live in victory . . . you must refuse to be dominated by the seen and the felt.” Amy Carmichael
Feelings. We all have them. One day you can "feel" real good, but the next day.....not so much! Now although all feelings are not necessarily bad, some can be if they are not in alignment with the truth of God's Word. Satan comes against us with feelings of discouragement, failure, defeat, sadness, depression, pity, loneliness, fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, condemnation, unworthiness, frustration, insecurity, and I'm sure you can add even more "feelings" to this list.
The truth is, the enemy has not changed his M.O.
He's been using these "feelings" to rob blood bought believers of their peace, joy, strength, and identity in Christ. If he's not using feelings, he's using circumstances….the things that can be seen.....to try to shake us and get us to abandon our firm foundation on God and the truth of His Word. Friend, usually what we "see" plants seeds that result in a harvest full of "feelings." This is why the Word tells us to walk by faith and not by sight because if we walk by what we see, it can lead to feelings/emotions and thoughts that do not line up with the Word of God. This is also why the Word tells us to renew our minds with the Word of God because if we don't, we will be feeling and thinking all kinds of things that are not of God. Lately, I've been studying about being led by the Holy Spirit. While studying I came across Galatians 5:25, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."
Let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.
Notice it did not say to follow our feelings/emotions or our thoughts, but to instead follow the leading of the Spirit. This means believers don’t make decisions based on personal experiences, opinions, what we see, or HOW WE FEEL; we make decisions based on the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Know this: Feelings don't have intellect. They aren't that bright, so don't trust them friend! This means that.........
if I feel that God isn't present with me and that I'm alone, that's a LIE! God's Word says that God will never leave me or forsake me!
If I feel like a failure or utterly defeated, that's a LIE! God's Word says that I am more than a conqueror and that He ALWAYS causes me to triumph in Christ.
If I feel like no one loves me, that's a LIE! God's Word says that He loves us with an everlasting love and that if the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, His unfailing love for us will NOT BE SHAKEN!
If I feel like I can't do "it," that's a LIE! God's Word says that I CAN do all things through Christ!
If I feel overwhelmed, outnumbered, overpowered, and conquered, that's a LIE! God's Word says that the gates of hell will not prevail and that He has already overcome the world!
If I feel unworthy and condemned, that's a LIE. God's Word says that I am worth more than many sparrows and that there is therefore NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If I feel bound by depression and extreme sadness, that's a LIE! God's word says that where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and that who the Son sets free is free indeed! The Word also says that Jesus came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
All in all, our feelings are unreliable and cannot be trusted to convey truth. It's time we stop being led by our feelings and instead be led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It's time we do what Jesus did when tempted by Satan to be led by his flesh, sight, and feelings. He responded with, "It is written…." He responded with the truth of God's Word! Why? Because what God's Word says is TRUE….and what we're feeling is not if it is not in alignment with the Word! Trust the truth of God's Word. Don't trust what you see and don't trust what you think, if your mind has not been renewed with the Word of God!
I'm preaching to myself on this one….we have to stop being moved by what we feel, or by what we see. It's time that we only be moved by what we believe. It's time that we truly believe God. Believe and trust in Him more than anything. Believe that He loves us. Believe that He will never leave or forsake us and that He has not and will not forget about us! It's time friend, that we allow the truth of God's Word to scream louder to us than the lies of satan! In order to do this we have to spend time in the Word daily and commune with God throughout our day! And when the enemy tries it, we have to command our emotions/feelings to come into alignment with the Word of God.
Always remember that getting into the presence of God and worshipping Him can and will change your perspective and how you feel because friend, it is impossible to be in the presence of Jesus and not be changed.
Today, when the enemy tries to attack you through feelings or what's going on around you combat those feelings and emotions with the Word of God. There are days when I will pull out my journal or begin to type on my phone on the notepad scriptures. I then begin to pray the Word over myself (Praying God's Word). By doing this I am combatting the lies of Satan with the truth of God's Word! There are days, when I "feel" down and "feel" like giving up, but those are the days that I press into His presence even more. I put my head phones on and turn on some praise and worship music and begin to praise God in spite of what I'm feeling and I tell you no lie, my negative "feelings" die in the presence of my loving and worthy Savior! All God wants us to do is to get in the habit of running to Him for grace, strength, joy, peace, and love and to command our feelings and emotions to line up with the Word of God. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."
Friend, today I encourage you to stop bowing down to your feelings--stop depending on and placing more value on how you feel than on the Word of God. Exalt the Word over your feelings--believe what the Bible says. And every time feelings come up to try and steal your peace and joy, find out what the Word of God says, and then open your mouth and speak the Word. Eventually the truth will override and change those negative feelings.
Be encouraged!:)
“If you would live in victory . . . you must refuse to be dominated by the seen and the felt.” Amy Carmichael
Feelings. We all have them. One day you can "feel" real good, but the next day.....not so much! Now although all feelings are not necessarily bad, some can be if they are not in alignment with the truth of God's Word. Satan comes against us with feelings of discouragement, failure, defeat, sadness, depression, pity, loneliness, fear, doubt, anxiety, worry, condemnation, unworthiness, frustration, insecurity, and I'm sure you can add even more "feelings" to this list.
The truth is, the enemy has not changed his M.O.
He's been using these "feelings" to rob blood bought believers of their peace, joy, strength, and identity in Christ. If he's not using feelings, he's using circumstances….the things that can be seen.....to try to shake us and get us to abandon our firm foundation on God and the truth of His Word. Friend, usually what we "see" plants seeds that result in a harvest full of "feelings." This is why the Word tells us to walk by faith and not by sight because if we walk by what we see, it can lead to feelings/emotions and thoughts that do not line up with the Word of God. This is also why the Word tells us to renew our minds with the Word of God because if we don't, we will be feeling and thinking all kinds of things that are not of God. Lately, I've been studying about being led by the Holy Spirit. While studying I came across Galatians 5:25, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."
Let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.
Notice it did not say to follow our feelings/emotions or our thoughts, but to instead follow the leading of the Spirit. This means believers don’t make decisions based on personal experiences, opinions, what we see, or HOW WE FEEL; we make decisions based on the Word of God, and the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Know this: Feelings don't have intellect. They aren't that bright, so don't trust them friend! This means that.........
if I feel that God isn't present with me and that I'm alone, that's a LIE! God's Word says that God will never leave me or forsake me!
If I feel like a failure or utterly defeated, that's a LIE! God's Word says that I am more than a conqueror and that He ALWAYS causes me to triumph in Christ.
If I feel like no one loves me, that's a LIE! God's Word says that He loves us with an everlasting love and that if the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, His unfailing love for us will NOT BE SHAKEN!
If I feel like I can't do "it," that's a LIE! God's Word says that I CAN do all things through Christ!
If I feel overwhelmed, outnumbered, overpowered, and conquered, that's a LIE! God's Word says that the gates of hell will not prevail and that He has already overcome the world!
If I feel unworthy and condemned, that's a LIE. God's Word says that I am worth more than many sparrows and that there is therefore NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If I feel bound by depression and extreme sadness, that's a LIE! God's word says that where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and that who the Son sets free is free indeed! The Word also says that Jesus came that we may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
All in all, our feelings are unreliable and cannot be trusted to convey truth. It's time we stop being led by our feelings and instead be led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It's time we do what Jesus did when tempted by Satan to be led by his flesh, sight, and feelings. He responded with, "It is written…." He responded with the truth of God's Word! Why? Because what God's Word says is TRUE….and what we're feeling is not if it is not in alignment with the Word! Trust the truth of God's Word. Don't trust what you see and don't trust what you think, if your mind has not been renewed with the Word of God!
I'm preaching to myself on this one….we have to stop being moved by what we feel, or by what we see. It's time that we only be moved by what we believe. It's time that we truly believe God. Believe and trust in Him more than anything. Believe that He loves us. Believe that He will never leave or forsake us and that He has not and will not forget about us! It's time friend, that we allow the truth of God's Word to scream louder to us than the lies of satan! In order to do this we have to spend time in the Word daily and commune with God throughout our day! And when the enemy tries it, we have to command our emotions/feelings to come into alignment with the Word of God.
Always remember that getting into the presence of God and worshipping Him can and will change your perspective and how you feel because friend, it is impossible to be in the presence of Jesus and not be changed.
Today, when the enemy tries to attack you through feelings or what's going on around you combat those feelings and emotions with the Word of God. There are days when I will pull out my journal or begin to type on my phone on the notepad scriptures. I then begin to pray the Word over myself (Praying God's Word). By doing this I am combatting the lies of Satan with the truth of God's Word! There are days, when I "feel" down and "feel" like giving up, but those are the days that I press into His presence even more. I put my head phones on and turn on some praise and worship music and begin to praise God in spite of what I'm feeling and I tell you no lie, my negative "feelings" die in the presence of my loving and worthy Savior! All God wants us to do is to get in the habit of running to Him for grace, strength, joy, peace, and love and to command our feelings and emotions to line up with the Word of God. Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."
Friend, today I encourage you to stop bowing down to your feelings--stop depending on and placing more value on how you feel than on the Word of God. Exalt the Word over your feelings--believe what the Bible says. And every time feelings come up to try and steal your peace and joy, find out what the Word of God says, and then open your mouth and speak the Word. Eventually the truth will override and change those negative feelings.
Be encouraged!:)