Choosing faith over feelings

Your greatest strength lies in choosing faith over feelings. Faith is a muscle that needs constant exercise to develop endurance. The most challenging time to pursue God is when you don’t feel like it. Understandably, all sorts of situations can influence you to loathe committing to maintaining a healthy relationship with your Creator, especially when you feel that He isn’t allowing things to go your way.

However, it is expedient that the more profound the pain and discomfort, the deeper you dive into your pursuit of Him. As a person of faith, the fundamental principle to live by is to accept that circumstances may change, but God remains the same (Hebrews 13:8), which is enough to inspire you to be consistent in your daily faith-building practices.

The choice to commit

The choice to commit is entirely yours. Therefore, the onus to remain disciplined in your connection to God lies squarely on your shoulders. Unfortunately, as a result of trials, you likely feel weak and unable to make the effort to invest time in your spiritual growth. Even so, this is when it might matter most for you to exert yourself to read the Bible, pray, or go on some kind of fast.

These devotional acts serve a greater purpose than you can fathom. They help foster enthusiasm for your faith and constructively amend your downcast spirit as you intentionally set aside time to cast your cares unto your Father; while also causing you to abide in Him (John 15:4-9). Ultimately bringing you into alignment with Abba. Faith and relationship go hand in hand.

Having a passion for God 

Having a passion for God, His Word and His people is not reserved for ministers (by profession). By receiving salvation through Christ Jesus, your life is a ministry of His good works. Hence, your ardour for faith is not emotionally based. Unfortunately, that is one thing most of us get wrong regarding our religious beliefs. God is unquestionably concerned about our feelings. However, He encourages us not to be ruled by them.

Therefore, our passion for Him drives us to press on beyond our feelings. If you think about it, we practice this in our studies, careers and our relationships. Therefore, practising it in our relationship with God should be the rule and not the exception. Training ourselves in our relationship with God sets the bar for stewarding other duties and relations. Consequently, it draws in a humble stance in a person because understanding that He is primary over your emotions and acting congruently with that understanding compels you to master your emotions – faith over feelings.

Your firm foundation

Finally, your faith is in God through Jesus, your firm foundation. Therefore, while armoured with your Ephesians 6 garment, your legs may wobble as you endure battles, but your feet will be firmly rooted in the one whom your trust is securely set. Evidently, your decision to rely on the truth of God’s Word over your sentiments will undoubtedly reinforce your faith.

For more inspiration, read our daily devotional, The Word for Today or listen to our podcasts in iono.fm.

Written by Dineo Phadimenyane.

The views expressed herein are that of the presenters and not Radio Pulpit.