Feelings: Friend or Foe?

“God’s Word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts” (Hebrews 4:12).

Emotions were given to us by God. Yet, the enemy attempts to use our feelings and emotions against us as a weapon. The enemy is the author of confusion. If he can confuse us by twisting our emotions, he can take our peace, hurt our relationships, isolate us and distract us.

If you have a general feeling like something is wrong, and you can’t remember what it was until you find something to worry about or feel offended or victimized by, that is not the Lord! That is the enemy working to create confusion and rob your/our peace.

Jesus came to set us free from being captive to the enemy. He didn’t just talk about it. He gave His life up for payment. Jesus wants us free!

If you’re feeling confused, tormented, or ruled by your feelings and emotions, instead of led by the love and peace of the Holy Spirit, you aren’t the only one. But we cannot stay in our feelings and be free.

God gave us the Word – the Bible – which is the tangible representation of Jesus. It’s there to hold and devour. When we read it, it clarifies. It moves us out of confusion. It “cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones, and it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts”.

We can’t allow ourselves to be enchanted by or addicted to melancholy thinking for the sake of “beautiful work.” I’m not okay with the enemy using my feelings against me. You have to make that determination for yourself.

God doesn’t need us to be melancholy and sad to do beautiful work. He wants us to be quiet and still before Him. How? When we are in His Word, it will do the work. The Lord will do the work through the Word.

If you want freedom and truth – seeing things clearly, let’s pick up the Word to reveal truth and help us climb out from the jungle of entrapping feelings.