The Dangers of Allowing Feelings to be Our Authority Instead of God’s Word

Sep2
Woman beside a signpost reading “Feelings/Emotions” and “God’s Word Scripture”

In a recent blog, I wrote about the casual attitude Christians sometimes have about their faith. In this particular blog, I would like to share something that fosters such an attitude. There is a prevailing way of thinking that says “feelings” are our ultimate authority So, if that is true where does that leave God? Because as any Christian knows, God guides us to do something sometimes that is uncomfortable. But in the end it turns out to bring more blessings into our lives than we could imagine. Let me give you an example.

When I found out that I was pregnant with my 4th child, I was not ‘feeling’ happy about it. I thought my family was complete with 3 daughters. My husband was in seminary and our lives were in preparation of a serious lifetime commitment to ministry. My youngest daughter was 4, and I was 34. I wasn’t ready to start all over with the baby thing.

But as a Christian, I knew of the preciousness of life. Therefore, abortion was never, and I mean never considered. Instead, I trusted God to work this out for my good and the good of our family and His glory. . Because that’s what His word says to do when faced with difficult situations. And guess what, eventually, my feelings changed as a result of trusting God and being guided by His word. And the blessing of our 4th child, a son? Well, there just isn’t enough words in the English language to describe the joy and the fulfillment I’ve known since giving birth to him.

If we are casual regarding spending time in God’s word, we will lack the wisdom and understanding we could access there. So when this sounding good attitude about ‘letting your feelings guide you’ comes around it sort of makes sense. As a result, the authority of God’s word is subtly replaced, and our feelings rise in influence. Consequently, we are driven to find solutions to our problems that will make us feel better. And when these solutions contradict God’s word, we are often unaware.

For Scriptures tells us it is the problems we have in life, when taken to God, that makes us over comers and victorious in life. But when we allow our feelings to dictate our actions, we play right into the hands of the enemy. All the blessings of having victory over trials and suffering are denied us. Consider the Truths of the following Words:

2 Corinthians 10 :3-4, NLT, We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. (These weapons are the Truths within Scripture)

Col. 2:8 NLT, “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.”

Lamentations 3:22-24, 26 …my take

Aug26

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

The book of Lamentations, attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, was written following the destruction of of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. They were feeling the consequences of their disobedience. The city is in ruins, the people are in mourning, and the atmosphere is heavy with despair. (BTW, the word portion means inheritance)

The above verses remind us that our God is faithful. Even when our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us. However, God’s word reveals to us that with the dawn of every morning, we can begin anew. We just need to be reminded of these verses in Lamentations. Hope can be restored and with faith we can wait quietly for our God’s deliverance. Just seek Him and be at peace. The fiery darts of doubt, worry, fear, etc., can be thwarted.

Oh, trust me, it won’t be easy. It may take awhile to regain our footing after difficult circumstances. The fiery darts of the enemy can come in like a flood. Especially, in our weakened moment. That’s why God has given us the ammunition of the above truth thought to resist the enemy’s weapons. Every morning we rise and turn our focus towards Jeremiah’s words to the suffering. Then we put one foot in front of the other. We remind ourselves of who God is. That He is bigger than our disappointments, our fears, our sufferings, our trials, etc. No matter what the enemy throws at us to bring us down, he cannot defeat God. (In 1 John 4:4 the word them refers to false prophets and those spreading deceptive spiritual ideas against Christ)

Remember, even if we have to refresh our faith every morning with these verses, we must keep at it. The enemy doesn’t give up easily. But be reminded that he is a defeated foe and eventually, we can claim the victory for our God fights the enemy and wins.

The Bible and the Truths therein, are our most powerful weapon against the enemy. But if we don’t go to God’s Word, we won’t know that! Will we?

Casual Christianity…

Aug19

Those of us who are Christians in America have a tendency to be very casual about our faith. The reason is, I believe, because it doesn’t cost us much. Our claim to being a Christian for many is evidenced by our church attendance (sporadic though it may be), and that’s about it. And for way too many of us that has been about all that is required to back up our claims of faith. Or so it’s been until the last several years.

For example, ever since the death of Charlie Kirk, there has been a stirring. More and more public figures have become quite outspoken about their faith in God as was evidenced in Charlie’s funeral service. His life and death influenced a reigniting of the Christian faith in America. Charlie’s faith was so much more than a casual faith.

And personally, I believe, the TV show, The Chosen, has played a part in this resurgence as well. For Jesus is presented in a way that more people feel they can relate to. They see Jesus’s humanity highlighted alongside his divinity. In a way they have never seen before. That’s not something that can be taken in and absorbed with just a casual glance.

And on the other side of the world, we are seeing the numbers of believers increasing. In spite of increased persecution. To follow Christ for persecuted Christians can mean expulsion from your family? Or loss of their means of income, or loss of their home. Families and neighbors turn against them when it is discovered they are believers in Christ. Their own families become their enemy. And in some cases they and children must flee for their lives. Sometimes they have to leave their homes and go to a safe house in another country. A casual faith doesn’t have what it takes to endure under such circumstances.

In America it is no longer popular to be a Christian. While we are not suffering persecution at this point, we are experiencing increasing discrimination. Which leads us to reconsider the cost of following Christ. And I say that is a good thing. Why? For when it starts costing us something to be a follower of Christ, we will soon learn its true value. And we will discover casual Christianity to be severely insufficient in battling the spiritual forces at war with us today.

Accepting the good days and the bad days…

Aug12

I don’t mind growing old. Wrinkles, declining energy, increases in aches and pains that’s all a part of life. Though many make efforts to curb or slow down the aging process, it is a futile effort. A person is better off just accepting this and moving forward.

Yet there is an aspect of growing old, that I find difficult to accept. Two aspects actually. I find it an exercise in frustration accepting the refusal of my body to tackle the tasks of cleaning and maintaining my home. (so does my husband) But the loneliness is perhaps the hardest. My husband and I have four married children. They have blessed us with ten grandchildren who range in age from eleven to twenty-two. They are scattered in various states and continents. Needless to say, visits are minimal.

Therefore, a verse like Psalm 118:24, doesn’t at first glance find a place to settle in my thoughts. Especially, when I am rambling about in a house built for a family of six. A house that has enveloped twenty of us on occasions!

Yet, I know that if I fail to reframe my focus, I will become a vulnerable target for the enemy’s fiery darts. How do I avoid this? God’s truth thoughts found within the pages of Scripture provide the answer. So I return to Psalm 118:24 for a deeper dive.

After a bit of study, it was revealed to me that the meaning of this verse doesn’t imply that even in the midst of trials we must be jumping for joy. While there are somedays that give cause to a celebratory mood, not every day will be like that. So in the difficult days or in times of trials we must frame our focus on the fact that God made that day.

So, in those difficult days, we remind ourselves that it is a day God has given to us. Though it may be heavy, God is there in that day. He has not forsaken us. Even in the midst of those kind of days, there are small gifts from God to comfort us. Look for them. They will be your solace.

Accepting the day God has given us, no matter what it may bring – good or bad, will produce the perspective that will sustain us. And that is cause to rejoice and be glad.

The Voices we listen to….

Aug5

Decided to repost this blog from January 18, 2023. Why? Because it’s relevant to what is threatening individuals as well as our country today.

Watching my country rushing headlong into chaos is disturbing. Maybe a bit scary? Add noticing how the church, individual Christians; not organizations, travels a path so compromising it can hardly be recognized as Christian, is even more disturbing. Something needs to change, right? But where do we start? We start by identifying our inner voices. (There’s more than one, you know. Thoughts are the threshold into our minds. 

Examine this with me:

First, we entertain a thought. That thought will generate certain related feelings. Those feelings will then fashion and shape our behavior.   Psychologists say that if behavior is to be changed, then the flow must be interrupted, either at the initial thought or at the feeling point.

So, it’s all about the voice we listen to. 

Let’s start with those in the world who follow a voice devoid of God’s input.

People following such a voice, embrace actions void of clear boundaries of right and wrong. Our culture tells these individuals, that to be true too oneself is the path to follow. Even if that means rejecting what use to be true, or if it means we must redefine truth, or reconstruct truth. 

Therefore, the thoughts swimming around in these individuals’ heads is their guiding voice. Initially, it probably is quite heady to throw off everything that has encumbered them (in their opinion) and do whatever they want whenever they want. If they desire to call wrong right then they give themselves the freedom to do so. They are their own boss (god?) now. Horribly, their freedom is a false freedom. They think they are liberated but when reality dawns they find themselves in a bondage defined by the enemy of their soul. And for some, it’s too late!

Now let’s consider those who would call themselves Christian-like. 

The voices swimming around in their heads are often contradictory. There’s the voice from today’s culture, the voice of self, and the voice of right and wrong. (The source of right and wrong thoughts may or may not be influenced by God’s truth). Therefore, which ever voice they give most attention to speaks the loudest, and is the one they follow. The problem here is that they would not be able to tell you for sure if they were true believers of God. They don’t know God’s truth well enough to say for sure. 

For instance, say they are facing a choice about an action they desire to take. They run it by the world and the world says go for it. They run it by their self-centered desires and there seems to be some hesitancy. Why? Because the voice of right and wrong says, “This is wrong.” Then self gets on the microphone and says, “Look, maybe this use to be wrong, but times change. There are extenuating circumstances now. Besides, if I’m going to be true to myself, then I should do this.” So the voice of right and wrong grows undistinguishable and is no longer the guiding voice. However, though all but buried, the voice of right and wrong has not been silenced completely, if they are truly God’s child. My concern here is for those who are being deceived by the wrong voice!

So what about the voice of those who identify as Christians?

Guess what, we hear three voices as well. We call it, the voice of God, the voice of our flesh, and the voice of the world. The difference is that while God’s spirit is the prevailing voice in a believer’s mind, the voice of our flesh, and the world are in constant competition with God’s voice. Therefore, by connecting daily with God through prayer and His word, we keep the microphone of God’s voice turned up, drowning out the deceptive and destructive voices of the world and self-centered thinkings.

Share this:

America’s Founding: The Cost of Ignoring God

Jul29
Large Holy Bible on table in front of officials with Capitol building visible
Turning back on God cast dark clouds over our future. Damaged flag indicates a country in danger.

As Christians we have the freewill to choose whether we will love and obey God. Satan takes advantage of our freedom by enticing us to disobey God. And by manipulation, lies, and deceit he gains victim after victim. And do you know what his most powerful weapon is? Ignorance of God’s word, the Bible, and lack of communication with God in prayer.

To continue with this month’s theme of the Founding of America, we must understand that just as ignorance of God’s word and lack of communication in prayer can make us vulnerable to Satan’s enticements to sin, so it applies to our country.

Consider the ignorance of far too many Americans about the details of our country’s beginnings. About the hand of God as was evident by miracle after miracle (I mean how does a small group of people defeat a world power like England). With our ignorance of our country’s beginnings, we played right into the enemy’s hands. His tactics are obvious to anyone who is firmly established in God’s wisdom. Our founding fathers were spiritually alert to how we could fail as a country. In George Washington’s farewell address he reminds us of this:

…reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

We are made in the image of God as most would concede. But do they grasp what that means? It means that we have the potential to reflect God’s character and authority. That makes us different from every other living creature. We can recognize right from wrong because we are God’s image bearers. But by rejecting God and His plan to redeem us, self rules and our image reflects the enemy.

Anyone or any country who denies God is left without protection from the enemy. Without the moral compass a belief in God offers, we are left to whatever influence we are impressed with. And that’s where Satan takes his advantage.

Our country should have learned her lesson when in June 15, 1962 school prayer was ruled as unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Then a year later in 1962 the Supreme Court ruled against Bible reading in school. What followed should have been expected. God was not only removed from our public school system, but the public arena as well. And here we are struggling in our desire to be religiously neutral. Declining in moral strength all along.

If our founding fathers, had decided to keep the government neutral when it came to religion, there would be no 250 years of freedom for American citizens to celebrate in 2026!

A Refresh on the Revolution…

Jul22

There has been quite a bit of enthusiasm over our 250th birthday. There was the movie Young Washington which only wetted my appetite for more about our founding father. (And from what I’ve learned is, there will be.) The event Rededicate 250 held on the National Mall rekindled my hope for a return to the Christian principles embedded within our Constitution. Then the enthusiastic acceptance of our World Cup visitor friends, opened my eyes to appreciate my beloved country from a fresh perspective. Needless to say, I was inspired.

Since the Christian faith of our Founding Fathers is severely downplayed these days, I knew I needed a refresh on the facts of our Revolutionary days. So when I discovered Eric Metaxas’s book, “Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation,” I was intrigued. You know what drew me to his book? He told the whole story. He didn’t leave God out. That was and is the missing element of most history books of our day. And frankly I hungered for that missing element.

So I’m in the process of reading Mr. Metaxas’s book. And I’m enthralled. Being a Christian myself, Revolution enables me to see the leaders of our Revolution from a relatable perspective. It surprised me to know that our Revolution has been the only successful revolution of many world revolutions? Ours has lasted 250 years and is proof positive that adhering to the biblical principles within our Constitution is the reason why. For the world’s sake, in order to continue moving forward America must return to her Christian faith. And the words of Ronald Raegan, and Puritan pilgrim John Winthrop based on Matthew 5:14-16 tells us why:

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.” John Winthrop

Raising up generations who are ignorant of the impact Christianity had on the formation of our country has produced the ignorance we are dealing with today. Did you know that it was reported that some of our leadership argued recently that our rights don’t come from God! This is shocking to me. However, is it any wonder we would be so misinformed about our country’s beginnings when we’ve lost sight of what motivated our Founding Fathers to establish such a country?

So I’m taking a refreshing plunge into a complete account of my country, thanks to Mr Metaxas. I do not care to continue in ignorance of all the nuances involved in the acts of faith and miracles of God that shaped our beloved United States of America. I strongly feel, if we desire to continue moving forward, we should be determined, as our Founding Fathers were, not to go without God.

Seeing America Through New Eyes: World Cup Impact While Celebrating Our 250th Birthday

Jul15
Add several American flags in scene

“See for yourself” is a call to verify claims directly. Combine that with critical thinking — asking who, what, and how — to make sure you’re judging truth based on evidence, not just emotion or repetition.

As America opened her doors to the fans and teams of the World Cup, reports flavored with surprise began to unfold. Our visitors discovered that America and her people weren’t anything like the negative portrayals global media had led them to believe. After all, repeated exposure to false claims can make them seem more believable.

But what happens when we are cut off from that negative influence? What happens when we place our feet upon the soil of reality? Ahh, the outcome is a very different narrative. So instead of hearsay and second hand information defining their opinions of America, our visitors formed their opinions of America through their own eyes. Some international fans openly admitted they were “wrong about Americans.”

And right in the middle of the World Cup games, America celebrated her 250th birthday. That sparked and energized a resurgence of patriotic celebrations. And maybe for the first time for many of our visitors and maybe for some Americans they began to see America AS the Beautiful. And with the steady influx of praise from our new friends, America was reminded of her strengths. The godly principles of our Constitution.

I believe that America is going through a time of transition. Prior to the World Cup and our 250th birthday, we have been seeing a return to the principles on which our beloved country was founded. I notice it most clearly as many of our leaders are increasing in their boldness to proclaim their faith in God. Thus, inspiring many Americans to follow their lead.

So I have no doubt that the timing of the World Cup games and our 250th birthday, was Providential. For too long, we have been fed a steady diet of what is wrong with America. It’s wears on her citizens and discourages us. God knew we needed our spirits to be renewed. And He provided.

Young Washington – Mistakes can make us

Jul7

This week America will celebrate her 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And a film portraying our country’s first president, George Washington, is highlighting our celebration. I believe, the timing of the release of this movie is Providential. For there is much to ponder and to learn from the movie, Young Washington.

For instance, Washington’s first attempts at leadership were massive failures. However, he chose to learn from those failures and history revealed it shaped him into becoming just the leader our country needed. His core belief in Providence fashioned a man who didn’t look to himself alone for his guidance. He depended on Providence to guide and protect him and his troops.

Now, I bring this up because America is being threatened from within. For there are those who would erase the roll of Providence in the formation of the United States of America, in particular of our Founding Fathers.

Yet, if we are hoping to extend America’s future, we had better acknowledge our errors as Washington did. For he famously quoted, “We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors.”

Acknowledging the protective power and guidance of God Almighty was the bedrock of his confidence. In a letter to the Rev. Samuel Langdon, Washington reflected this.

“The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf. And it is my earnest prayer that we may so conduct ourselves as to merit a continuance of those blessings with which we have hitherto been favored.” — George Washington in a Sept. 28, 1789 letter to the Rev. Samuel Langdon

I believe the timing of this film is Providential. I pray it will inspire Americans to get informed as to who we are and what we are about. To turn our hearts back to God. To be taught the Truth and be set free by that Truth. We need to acknowledge our mistakes, Swallow our pride and make choices that will bring healing and strength to our beloved country.

And as a result get informed and acknowledge that God is calling us back to Himself. While recognizing the enemy. For he is that hidden voice, the motivator, behind those who are bent on destroying America.

Instead let us purpose to follow the course set for us in Matthew 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden….” as referenced by President Raegan in his farewell address. A course that returns us to God and restores America. For if we do not, a Puritan pilgrim, John Winthrop back in 1630, warned us of the consequences:

“For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7, My take…

Jul1
mountainside praying at sunrise
Saying thanks even when we don’t feel like it!

I have a one hour drive to the small country church where my husband pastors. The routine is he leaves before me and I drive in about an hour and half later. The larger portions of my journey are down a rural highway. So mostly I get to enjoy the displays of the four seasons whose star attraction is the stately trees.

Since the drive is somewhat lengthy, I habitually plug in my phone to a music app and select “Contemporary Christian Bands.” Since I am the sole listener, I get to pay attention to the words. And I pay attention because God is always faithful to whisper truths I need to be reminded of.

With grandchildren growing up and out, I just don’t get to enjoy their companionship as I use to. And because my kids either live too far away or a busy life prevents visits, their company is lacking as well. It’s hard to adjust to my solemn days. And I have to confess, lonely. My husband is a big help for having to do for him, keeps my mind occupied. But as a mom and grandmother, I find that the temptation to worry increases as the time between visits decreases.

Thus on the trip to church last Sunday God directed me to do something I hadn’t really done before. He charged me to evaluate the inner voice that was reminding me of the declining moments of memory making with my children and grans. To ask myself what was that inner voice trying to accomplish by reminding me of my sadness. I thought I was just pondering these sad thoughts in an attempt to try an understanding my aching heart.

While listening to a variety of songs I was reminded of God’s question. And I began noticing something. The words in the songs, reflected God’s faithfulness, mercy, compassion, and, yes, blessings even in difficult days. But that didn’t match up with the dialog in my head. So obviously, it wasn’t that I needed to have a better understanding of my troubles. The whisperings I was getting from God was ‘change the record.’

The point God was making was beginning to sink in. The feelings of sadness (feeling sorry for myself) were not prompted by God. With His encouragement, I now evaluate those thoughts as to their origin. And, as to their purpose. The answer is pretty obvious.

All I have to do to thwart the enemy’s attacks is to thank God for this season of my life. Children grow up and often move away. But God doesn’t run out of ideas for our lives when our house grows quiet and empty. Turning to Him in anticipation of what’s next will reveal new things to be thankful for. By allowing an attitude of thanksgiving to rule my thoughts. I will know peace. Not worry. Not sadness. Not loneliness. But a new appreciation for the changes God is making in my life.