Responding to Our Feelings

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You," Isaiah 26:3.

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, 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. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you," Philippians 4:8-9.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth," Colossians 3:1-2.

One tactic that Satan uses is to persuade us to believe that we have no control regarding our emotions. While it is very true that emotions sometimes catch us by surprise, it is just as true that we can definitely have control over the way we respond to them. The Word of God indicates that we can exercise self-control over our feelings, and that when we do that God will pour out His peace upon us.

It is crucial for us to understand that the peace of God is not found in positive thinking or in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control. He is the Blessed Controller of all things.

When we begin to understand even a part of the character of God, we are moved to praise and worship Him. The psalmists wrote, composed, and sang to the Lord in response to their learning and experiencing God's magnificence. They expressed their emotions in the form of adoration and thanksgiving in melody. David and the other writers have taught us and left us a way through the Psalms to direct our emotions to the Lord.

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Karen