Friday, August 24, 2018

“To Change how you feel, change how you think”


John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

A very big part of how we live life, make decisions, arrive at convictions, qualify or disqualify people’s entry into our lives, and evaluate our happiness are all based on how we, “feel.” We say things like, “I don’t feel good about that choice,” “I don’t feel good about that person,” or “I just don’t feel good about what I am hearing.”

We get up in the morning and someone says, “How are you doing this morning?” We do a quick evaluation of any physical pain, emotional upset, or mood change and then say, “I am doing fine, or great,” or “I’ll get by”, or “I am hanging in there.” All these responses reflect how we “feel.”

Mature sons and daughters of God choose to put more trust in God, His Word, and His promises than they do how they, “feel,” naturally. They place all feelings into the hands of God for His determination of accuracy and truth. We find He gives us sanctified emotions.

That is why we pray, “O Lord sanctify me completely, spirit, soul and body, mind, will and emotions, feelings, mood, and imagination.” We choose by an act of our will to have the mind of Christ, which includes His emotions and feelings. And we choose to reject harmful or negative feelings and not allow them to go unrestrained. We chose to partake of His peace that He has provided for us.

Imagine the two tines of a tuning fork with your mind, will, and emotions on one side and His mind, plan for your life, and His Word on the other side. Together when they strike it produces one harmonious sound that others may tune up to around you.

This change of thinking begins when we know His voice, (tuning up), we know His peace, (tuning up), we know His word, (tuning up).

His peace and joy pass all human or natural understanding and guards our hearts and minds. This daily consecration and commitment will keep you in perfect peace to choose wisely and walk with authority bearing much fruit in our lives.

Proverbs 23:7
For as he (man) thinks within himself, so he is.