Choosing to Trust His Word Not My Feelings

I have lived the majority of my life with my emotions leading. But I’m learning that I cannot always trust my feelings. (The positive or the negative.) Even so, at times it is difficult to distinguish what is of my own heart and what is of the Holy Spirit.

But I’m learning to test my feelings with the Word of God. I’m learning to pray (often writing out my petitions and emotions) then wait on Him to guide me to Truth. The Truth always sets me free. It doesn’t always restore bubbling over joy, but it always gives me some sort of peace. Balance. Strength.

Rather than letting my feelings rule me, I’m praying for Christ to use my feelings to propel me to Him.

As I spent time with the Lord the other morning, my emotions were consuming. I was feeling despair and grief. But in His goodness, after long petitions and reading of Scripture the Lord led me to this verse:

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Wow.

I am so thankful for His clarity and the power of the Living Word of God. I didn’t suddenly break out into a happy dance, but the cloud of worry and negative thoughts dissipated. The power of His Word is amazing. …For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10b).

I’m choosing to live by His Truth and not my feelings. 

Do you struggle with this too? What scripture helps you on days when your feelings try to rule?

Finding purpose in the Word,

A great resource to help use the Bible to pray and direct emotions: Praying God’s Word, by Beth Moore. 

This post first appeared as “Spirit Side Up”.