Faith Over Feelings

Dear diary,

As much as we hate to admit it, a lot of us spend way too much time in our feelings rather than in his presence. And I want to make myself very clear: feelings are not a bad thing. As long as we are walking on this earth, feelings are bound to play a role in our lives. We see all throughout the Bible, where prophets, leaders, and even Jesus felt emotions. But when we allow our emotions to do the decision-making in leu of the Holy Spirit, we can sometimes run into trouble. Today we are going to talk about understanding our feelings and where to re-categorize them so that they are not hindering our faith.

Our Feelings Change Too Much

First things first, let's address why we can't be so reliant on our feelings. If we moved or acted every time our feelings changed, we would probably be marked as unstable. One minute of the day we are happy; the next minute, we're crying our eyes out. Our feelings just change too much! We have to instead keep ourselves rooted in something that is never changing and always sovereign: our Lord Jesus. When we ground ourselves on a firm foundation, we can withstand all the elements that are thrown our way. It doesn't matter if it is a divorce or a financial hardship, when we are rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are not easily swayed.

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

James 1:8

Your Feelings Tell You What To Pray For

So, does this mean that our feelings are completely useless? Absolutely not! A lot of times, when we feel something, our natural instinct is to act on it. But we can’t give into the flesh every time it tugs at us. Just because you are angry does not mean you can yell at everyone. Just because you are sad does not mean you can give up. Instead, we should use our feelings to lead us to pray.

When you’re angry, pray and ask God what you should do. When you're sad, ask God to restore your joy. Someone once said that our feelings should point us to what to pray for, not how to act. This simple switch can reset your prayer life and result in better life outcomes.

"Never stop praying."

1 Thessalonians 5:17

The Holy Spirit Tells Us How To Act

I know what you’re thinking: So, if I can’t move on how I feel, how do I move at all? Just because you don't move on your feelings does not mean you don't move at all. You should be move by the Holy Spirit. After you have prayed over your feelings, seek truth and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. This will allow you to move in a way that God has ordained rather than the way your feelings have ordained. It is okay to ask God how to move and act accordingly in every area of your life. In fact, He encourages it. As the verse below explains, our hearts should be trusting in the Lord, not our feelings (or our understanding).

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 3:5-6

We are going to come across moments in life that make us feel so many emotions. But in order to get through them, we have to remember this: Faith moves mountains, not our feelings.

Lord, thank you that you are a firm foundation in the roller coaster we call life. I ask that your Holy Spirit remind us to remain in you whenever we feel unstable. I give you all the glory and honor. Amen.

- xoxo God's Girl