The duplicity of the feelings
December 17th, 2009 by Shyju Mathew
One of the most used phrases by Christians, trying to ascertain whether they are in the will of God, is the phrase, ‘I FEEL PEACE’ and I am not against it. There have been many times that I have felt the peace of God about situations but over the years being in the ministry, I have noticed that this statement is also abused by some; intentionally or unintentionally. I’ve seen some people change their ‘peace feeling’ as often as who they were dating that week!
It is important for us to know the difference between the will of God and the misguiding of our emotions or feelings. For a long time, I was deceived with the thought of ‘feel like praying’. There were certain times that we feel like praying but let me insist there are many more days that we don’t feel like praying. So, to have procrastinated your time of prayer for the lack of feeling to pray is not you being guided by the Lord but by your own flesh!
Feelings are basic emotions. It can be great, good, bad or worse depending on the circumstance or situations that surround us. A true Christian is not founded on his or her feelings but on the word of God. That certainly means that I need to pray even when I do not feel like praying. It’s a matter of discipline in your walk with God.
Another constant whine that I hear is, “I prayed and I did not feel God”. Now trying to understand what they mean from that statement would then end up to be, I did not feel my usual goosebumps, heat or tingling. Friends, with tingling or no tingling, the Bible promises, ‘He will never leave us nor forsake us’. So that means irrespective of what I feel, He is with me and He hears my prayer!!!
I am not against feelings, infact I feel the presence of God in my palms when I pray but what I’m trying to say is that, I do not base my prayer life or my authority in God or ministry or faith for healings on how I feel in my palms or head. Depending solely on feelings will open your heart to a lot of disappointment.
Imagine if Jesus, through his entire lifetime on earth, depended on feelings rather than the Holy Spirit who led him to the wilderness to fast and pray. To start with, why is it so hot? I am too exhausted to pray. I need some water to cool my throat after an hour of prayer. The wild animals including the creepy-crawly ones are a distraction. I can’t find a decent shower. I feel tired, lethargic, sun-burnt, dry… What more excuses can we come up with? He certainly didn’t come up with the excuse that, ‘God understands my situation.’
Jesus was not led by His feelings instead was led by the Holy Spirit. Now notice the word is led, not guided. Meaning He was fully dependent on the Holy Spirit. No wonder why regardless of how tiresome Jesus’ impromptu conferences felt or how long the healing line was, he still went up to pray throughout the night!
God help us – from the enemy using the duplicity of our feelings against our walk with God!
So, whether you feel Him or not,hear Him or not, do not be discouraged. He is our ever present help.
P.S – look forward for a important post here next friday on “The Spirit man’s moonwalk“
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Amen Amen, very true, its not about what we are, where we are, how we are, how we look, or what ever, see God in every situation and conditions , For God is with us all the time, listening to our heart
I like the one you said A true Christian is not founded on his or her feelings but on the word of God, and the example of Jesus well said, and yes we have to always take the example of God so we will know how humble he was in all situation giving every thing to his father in heaven, and the Holy spirit,
God Bless you more to be a blessing to many and to build his kingdom
Amen! That is a wonderful message.
Be blessed and highly favored.
Praise the Lord…. I needed this for today!! I will no more be led by my feelings but by the Holy Spirit!
So true that we should not go by our feelings by we need to be led by the Holy Spirit.. And the Word of God.
But how could u be so sure that jesus is walking with u when u cant feel him?? DONT u feel doubtful abt his love n whether he is listening o not to our prayers.. Most of the time i dont feel god.. I feel forsaken n abandoned.. n sometimes when i pray i ask god if he is listening.. i dun even know whether he is listening o not, den how can i put my faith in him tat he is going to ANSWEr my prayers?? n all i feel towards the end is boredom n tiresome.. n i feel unloved by god.. n tat god had always loved evry1 else except me.. he blesses evry1 else except me.. he toks to evry1 else except me.. when i hear people’s testimonies, i feel down n i feel like giving up on god……..
Dear No Name,
How we could be sure that Jesus is walking with us when we dont feel Him is that cos the Bible says He will never leave you nor forsake you. We dont doubt his love cos the greatest love manifested was on the cross when he spread the arms for you and gave up his final breath for you! There is no greater love than that. Dont worry about who is blessed and when you are not. Promotion comes from God. Try this – begin to trust God despite how you feel about it. Base your trust on the eternal word of God!
Blessings,
Shyju
the biggest proof of sum1's luv is… giving his life for u… & tats wt jesus did it for u…
If u wud have been the only person living on this earth.. still he wud have sacrifised his life for u.. only to save u..
So great is his love for u…
Trust on him, is all he is asking in return.. a blind trust…..
And once u start trusting him, belive me… u will expereience him… in ur life…. & will understand tat watver hapens is for ur own good……….
you nailed it! just what we need to hear these days. god bless
thanx shyju..u cleaned up d devils smartest scheme on my prayer life..”doubts hv no medicines” but God is d healer n more dan dat our faith has healed us…il hv no issues believing dat God hears me n the Holy Ghost is vry mch near me..
thanx a zillion
So all i need to do is trust in GOD despite how i feel? ok.. but i really wanna know how it feels like to have personal relationship with god. i dun understand it. i just keep hearing people teling n sharing how god spoke to them n hw god guide them. but i dun get it.. how is tat? i wanna experience it too. i have been a christian since de past 19 years but y is tat i havent had any personal rship with god.. is it because im sinful? Does god hate me coz im unholy like the other christians? its really confusing…
I do not use feelings to live my life….not for a long time now anyway. I believe that Jesus did all that he did whether He liked it or not…to glorify His Father in Heaven.I do my best to follow what Jesus would do in any given situation i find myself in….whether i like it or not. I live my best life because of His grace…whether others like it or not.
You addressed my issue Shy…. thank u bro
God Bless You
I praise you lord..Amen
This message is just for me.Sometimes i don’t feel like praying but at the same time my heart tells me to pray.Thank the lord for his Wonderful blessing upon me.
God bless …
wonder teaching Shyju..! Thank u…!
God Bless you.!
dear No name,
I so luv you in christ Jesus and i am 100% sure that Jesus also luves you more than Me:):) ….
Just think about this scenario.
if GOD JESUS had asked FATHER GOD that " father, i luv the mankind…i luv the people that you have given me…BUT..should I die on CROSS father?? its a bit painful….i dont want to do that..i can just say" i luv you mankind" n come back to you in heaven ..but did HE do that dear bro/ sis?? instead HE obeyed father, rather HE PAID THE PRICE TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING.
Like this we are supposed to pay a price after we become christian to feel HIS love in greater measures, to feel HIS heartbeat, if we want to feel someones heartbeat what we do..we gotta draw near to that person's chest right?? it doesnt happen by standing 1 m away from that person but still say i wanna feel your heartbeat. YES, so if we really want to feel GOD's love in greater measures..we gotta pay a PRICE by sacrificing our
TIME …to be with GOD in HIS pressence..( growing as a CHRISTIAN )
BUT lemme tell you one more thing that…regardless of what we pray , how much time we pray..HE still love us all…coz GOD IS LOVE n HE doesnt know anything else other than lavishing HIS love upon you n me..its worth reading JOHN : 17.
God bless you dear.