faith and feelings

In the near future (or not too distant) we will be looking at Matthew Elliott's book, Feel: The Power of Listening to Your Heart. I have found it an interesting book and I'm not really sure if it contradicts, or refines what I believe on the subject of feelings, or not.

Feelings certainly are important. We're humans and feelings are a big part of what makes us human. Our emotions are surely a reflection of being made in God's image. God while in essence not human- though having become fully human in the Son, Jesus- still is said to have emotions. Some think that is only an accommodation by God to us. But surely it is more. God's love and anger is more than just decrees that come from a passive, unemotional being. Of course God's emotions are untainted, without sin, and God is unlimited unlike us.

I can't live on emotions and feelings. Often, being a morning person, I'm naturally more into things and "psyched" in the mornings, and especially more so than in the afternoons, during which I'd do well to take a nap. I live by faith, in spite of feelings many times. But feelings do come and we need them. I should feel love toward my wife. I should feel love toward God and toward others.

I see feelings as an important byproduct of faith. Normally they should be present in some measure, but if they're not that doesn't mean our faith is empty and void, or unreal. There is "the dark night of the soul." We need to press on in faith, and press through to the reality of God in Christ by the Spirit, and in community with others in Jesus, for the world. And we need to live this faith life out, with all that accompanies it, through everything.

Much more to explore on this, and if you're interested check out the book I refer to above.

What thought might you have on this?

feelings

I'm reading an interesting book on feelings, which has raised my eyebrows at times so far, but still leaves me intrigued. More to come on it!

While emotions are a powerful indicator of where we might be, our own perception and understanding of them is fallible. At the same time emotions are a part of our humanity, and no part of our humanity is to be despised. We are, after all, made in the image of God.

While I think feelings are important, I still insist that I don't live on them. Maybe the author will help me tweak or refine my thinking on this. I do live with emotions, and they do impact my life daily.

When I feel especially low or troubled, this for me is a good indicator that I need to pray. Of course we enjoy the times when we're genuinely happy.

I do think growing up in regard to our feelings has its place. And feelings come along in that maturity into Christ-likeness, as we begin to feel something of what God feels. That is what I want to feel. Something of the sharings in Christ's sufferings, something in the pull in the Father's heart for the prodigals, something of the groan of and in the Spirit for the redemption of all things.

What would you like to share on feelings?

misled by feelings

Emotions are a gift from God not to be despised. In fact I've heard that laughter can be quite therapeutic for us, releasing endorphins, which can bring a sense over us of general well being, and actually are for our well being.

The other side is just as real too. In fact gloom can put us into a darkness in which it is not easy to think straight, or well. Not that we can't, but it makes it hard or harder to do so.

It is good to experience the full gamut of emotions. Jesus wept, the Spirit grieves, there is the joy of the Lord, etc. Some seem especially prone to a darkness in which all hope is gone, despair sets in, and life is lived in a kind of survival mode mentality.

Yesterday I realized that there was no good reason I was aware of that I should be back in gloom. If I live by the truth in Jesus and see life from that perspective, what mattered before which was bringing me down, does not matter anymore. The truth in Jesus trumps all of that. 

Of course we do need to pay attention to our feelings, because they can be symptomatic of something that needs taken care of in our life (perhaps even lack of sleep). But I don't want to be hung up on how I feel, and be living by that. Or be hung up in looking at myself trying to figure out what is wrong. Instead we need to get a glimpse of God in Jesus, and like Isaiah of old, then we will get a true, healthy, helpful view of ourselves that will, like him, put us on our feet, ready to do God's will.

What would you like to share on this?

when feelings mislead

I'll never forget words spoken by one of my seminary professors for whom I have a most high regard: Dr. James Grier. He stated something like he had found most of the time that when he went with his feelings in making a decision (I take it, difficult decisions), he had been almost always wrong.

How can feelings mislead us? I think they can when our motives are not in accordance with God's revealed will found in God's word, in Scripture. Or we can have peace over something related to the decision to be made, yet not squarely on the decision itself. We may have some fears to overcome and matters to think through more clearly, in counsel with others, and with ongoing prayer.

God is always at work in our lives, and in Jesus that work is not going to stop. We can rest assured in that. Perhaps some of the issue is to let God help us get to the root of our fears. No matter what we face, including mistaken or bad decisions along the way, we know that nothing at all can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I know this is sketchy. But is there any insights on this you might like to share? Or any thoughts?