God Uses Our Feelings
by Frances M. McCrory-Meservy
Peace: a sense of "quiet", reflecting calm, serene, resulting in confidence
Turmoil: The opposite of peace, chaos, disorder, disturbance or agitation, resulting in stomach upset and doubt
Scripture shows us that peace is quiet confidence. This is the primary feeling that God leads us with. It also says the we should study the word of God to show ourselves approved, rightly diving the word of God. It also says the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.
God gave us our feelings for a reason. We know God is with us when all is falling apart around us and there is danger everywhere; yet, we feel calm and confident. It makes no sense that we are not afraid or in turmoil. That's why scripture calls it the peace that passes all understanding.
When we are in God's will, that peace is there. It is a feeling. Christians are in God's will most of the time. We get so used to peace that we misstep at times. Turmoil is the opposite of peace. It is also a feeling. Since we are at peace most of the time, turmoil is foreign to us and we recognize it right away.
Sometimes when your gut is bothering you, it is not because you are sick. It's because you are out of God's will or about to move out of His will. You should start questioning yourself. Are you angry with anyone? Am I thinking of doing something that I should not do right now? Am I thinking thoughts that I should not me thinking? Does God want me to do something and I am resisting? You can't relax no matter what. Joy is gone.
I call these two feelings gut feelings. God speaks to us through our feelings. He uses them to guide us. He never gives you fear to guide you. Fear is never from God. There is a difference between fear and turmoil. Fear is from Satan and he uses that to stop you from doing God's will.
Some feelings are important ones that God uses in our lives to guide us. Other feelings are there to teach us how God feels when we do certain things.
IE: Are you jealous when your mate dates someone else? That's how God feels when we put something before him (Idols). What's our idols today? TV, drugs, tobacco, sports, jewelry, cars, houses, etc. What Controls you?
How do you feel when your child lies to you or does not obey you? That's how God feels when you lie to someone or you do not obey Him. Does it make you angry or disappointed? Do you want to discipline them so they will be better children? You are God's child.
Do you feel anguish when your child does wrong things? Do you try to find a way to turn him/her around so they will not be hurt by what they are doing? God feels the same way about us.
Do you feel depressed? Are you harboring anger? If you are a Christian, you are sealed to the Holy Spirit and retained anger grieves the Spirit in us. The grief that He fills is felt by us also because we are sealed. That grief translates into our lives as depression. If you are depressed, let go of the anger and let God remove it from you so you can be joyful once more.
Point is, God uses our feelings. Do not disregard them out of hand. Granted we are not supposed to run on our emotions because God gave us His word and a brain. The fruit of the Spirit that is self-control is about controlling our emotions. If we keep our emotions under control, we will use our brains to understand what God is trying to tell us with those emotions.
Peace - that calm confidence will be easily recognized if we have self-control.
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation.
Luke 1:79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
1 Pet 3:11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Rom 14:17-19 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
2 Cor 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Eph 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Phil 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Col 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Heb 12:14-16 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.