The fact of the matter is this: feelings deceive us.
Feelings tell us someone meant to hurt us when they didn't. Feelings tell us no one cares about us when we are surrounded by people. Feelings tell us we were born in a body we don't belong in when we are actually made perfect. Feelings tell us we should be seek revenge for a wrong. Feelings tell us life isn't worth living anymore.
Feelings cause us to sin and to act outside of the will of God.
(Disclaimer: feelings are not sinful, but holding on to some feelings and some of the actions that often flow out of our feelings are sinful.)
Feelings cause us to hold onto bitterness, seek revenge, hurt others, start wars, drift away from those who love us, trample over the needs of others, seek love from worldly places, lose ourselves, give ourselves over to fleshy desires, be afraid, and worry.
Feelings tell us we aren't close to God, that he doesn't care about us, that we shouldn't even bother with devotions because they don't seem to be producing any fruit. On the flip side, feelings cause us to believe we are perfectly right with Him and that we have done no wrong, when in reality we have so many things we need to repent of.
Feelings tell us someone meant to hurt us when they didn't. Feelings tell us no one cares about us when we are surrounded by people. Feelings tell us we were born in a body we don't belong in when we are actually made perfect. Feelings tell us we should be seek revenge for a wrong. Feelings tell us life isn't worth living anymore.
Feelings cause us to sin and to act outside of the will of God.
(Disclaimer: feelings are not sinful, but holding on to some feelings and some of the actions that often flow out of our feelings are sinful.)
Feelings cause us to hold onto bitterness, seek revenge, hurt others, start wars, drift away from those who love us, trample over the needs of others, seek love from worldly places, lose ourselves, give ourselves over to fleshy desires, be afraid, and worry.
Feelings tell us we aren't close to God, that he doesn't care about us, that we shouldn't even bother with devotions because they don't seem to be producing any fruit. On the flip side, feelings cause us to believe we are perfectly right with Him and that we have done no wrong, when in reality we have so many things we need to repent of.
Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
As ambassadors for Christ, as sojourners of this world, we are called to live in accordance to God's will. His will is not to be controlled by our emotions or to sin, but to over come them and look at Truth personified through Jesus Christ and shown to us in Scripture.
Now, by no means are we to become like robots and have no emotions. There are many wonderful feelings God created for us to enjoy. The fruitful ones, the ones that do good rather than harm, are the ones that stem out of the character of God. Feelings like love (though this one is more of an action), joy, peace, righteous anger, sorrow for the pain of others cause us to act in love and produce fruit for His Kingdom. It's the emotions like worry, anger, fear, and bitterness that cause us and the others around us harm when we let them go unchecked.
As I said, we are called to look to Truth. When we feel something, we need to trust not the feeling but the One who created us. We are called to look to the One who knows us better than we even know ourselves to show us the Truth about the situation and the feelings we are having. We need to be a people that doesn't act on our own desires, but seeks the wisdom of the Lord first, and obey the things he calls us to.
I am no master at this. I hurt. I cry. I feel. I'm human and that's what we do and God knows that! There is a time to mourn and a time to dance, and God calls us out of the mourning or anger or fear or bitterness or worry into joy, peace, and true life with him
Now, by no means are we to become like robots and have no emotions. There are many wonderful feelings God created for us to enjoy. The fruitful ones, the ones that do good rather than harm, are the ones that stem out of the character of God. Feelings like love (though this one is more of an action), joy, peace, righteous anger, sorrow for the pain of others cause us to act in love and produce fruit for His Kingdom. It's the emotions like worry, anger, fear, and bitterness that cause us and the others around us harm when we let them go unchecked.
As I said, we are called to look to Truth. When we feel something, we need to trust not the feeling but the One who created us. We are called to look to the One who knows us better than we even know ourselves to show us the Truth about the situation and the feelings we are having. We need to be a people that doesn't act on our own desires, but seeks the wisdom of the Lord first, and obey the things he calls us to.
I am no master at this. I hurt. I cry. I feel. I'm human and that's what we do and God knows that! There is a time to mourn and a time to dance, and God calls us out of the mourning or anger or fear or bitterness or worry into joy, peace, and true life with him