Walk By Faith and Not By Your Emotions

Unfortunately, there are many today who live more by their feelings or emotions and they base their decisions on what they can see with their natural eyes rather than live their lives based on faith.

The truth is, we cannot live by emotions or how we feel on a daily basis. A lot of mistakes can be made that way and a lot of false assumptions can come as a result.

I have heard people say things like , “I don’t feel like doing anything right now.” “I don’t feel like working today.” “I don’t feel the presence of God.” “I feel like God has turned His back on me.” “I feel like so and so don’t like me.”

On a more personal note of my own confession – while I do enjoy writing, I don’t always feel like blogging or bringing new posts to encourage and inspire people and give others hope. I don’t always feel like being nice to people or being in the same place where there is a crowd.

I hate to admit that I don’t always feel like giving people a ride in my car who I meet along the roadway. That’s because I don’t always feel like being kind and generous.

Most days I don’t feel like getting up out of my bed to go to work.

I don’t always feel like reading the Bible and praying especially when things are going well in my life. I don’t always feel like going to church and to assemble myself among other believers.

At times I feel like being left alone and would occasionally grumble under my breath at others when I can’t have it my way.

The thing is though, I have to constantly fight my feelings and to remind myself with God’s word that as a Christian and Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my life is not about feelings or emotions but one of faith.

I have to remind myself that in order for me to be obedient to God I cannot go based on my emotions or what I see with my natural eyes but instead, I have to first listen to what He has to say to me by whatever method He choose to speak at the time.

The same way you cannot let your emotions dictate your faith. According to Sarah Hahn, “Feelings are inconsistent. They’re unreliable.” She further said, “We can’t base our relationship with God on some wavering feeling or connection.” And she is absolutely correct about that.

The scripture that resonated with me that would further support and strengthen the point of us not living by feelings or emotions can be found in 2 Corinthians 5:7 New Life Version (NLV) that says “Our life is lived by faith. We do not live by what we see in front of us.”

In order to please God, it has to be about living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in His promises. For as the scripture says,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe he exists and rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

Now what if a farmer was to go to his farm to work based only by the way he was feeling on any given day? Do you believe that he would get anything done?

To begin with, a farmer’s work is hard! Not to mention the fact that he has to get up very early in the morning out of the comforts of his warm and comfortable bed. So if he was to go by his feelings, then no, he won’t get anything accomplished. So he goes to work, he plant his seeds, he diligently attend to his crops right through to the day of harvest.

Whatever the circumstances may be, life threatening or not, the Bible teaches us that we are saved and we are justified by our faith, not our emotions. “This is what we have come to know. A man is made right with God by putting his trust in Christ. It is not by doing what the Law says.” (Romans 8:28 NLV)

The moment we decide to walk by faith, it is a resolute affirmation to our entire trust and confidence being in the Almighty God. As Christians and believers in Christ Jesus, we are on a journey. We have a final destination. When we live by faith, it is also a way to help us to remain hopeful and to stay focused on the end of the journey.

Basing decisions on emotions and feelings hinders us from running the Christian race in a way that is pleasing to God or consistent with His word. As a result of the sin we also become entangled thus making our journey through life even more difficult.

Therefore, regardless of how you feel on any given day, “let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

Like Jesus, your reward is in your obedience to God. Sow seeds in faith. It could be praying for someone or expressing God’s love to others even when they display feelings of hatred. It could be helping, motivating, encouraging and giving others hope through some kind deed or spoken word.

It may also mean making a monetary contribution to the church, a cause, a not for profit organisation or to individual/s who are in great need of such.

God rewards faith, not emotions. So walk by faith and not by your feelings.

YOUR TURN, LET’S TALK IT OVER: 

• Do you live your life by your feelings or your emotions?
• Why do you think it is so easy to make your decisions that way?
• What do you think your life would be like if you were to start walking by faith instead of your emotions?
• What do you have on your to-do list that you think requires a step of faith to get it done?

Related posts on Faith to encourage you.

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