Have you ever found yourself in a situation that after serious reflection you realized you shouldn’t be in? Have you looked at the situation and wondered, “How did I get here? How did I allow this to happen?”
Too often, we discover that we have allowed our feelings to be in control of our thoughts and actions. Feelings can be stronger than our common sense, logical thought and conclusion, knowledge gleaned from intense study and actual life experience. Feelings can make you do things you never thought you would.
Take a look around our world today. TV, streaming, online gaming, social media, books, magazines, even word of mouth all can cause us to do illogical, impractical, illegal, and harmful things. Why? Because we allow our feelings to take over.
Words, feelings, emotions, all have their place, but they must all be kept under the control of our spiritual nature. Have you ever intensely wanted something, although you knew it wasn’t something you should have or be doing? Have you felt the Holy Spirit speaking to you, telling you this will only hurt you if you keep going? Have you asked the Lord to give you what you wanted and He said no, so you stopped praying because you couldn’t ask Him for something He is telling you will hurt you, but you want it so much you can’t give it up? Friends, our feelings will lie to us.
“Impressions and feelings are no sure evidence that a person is led by the Lord. Satan will, if he is unsuspected, give feelings and impressions. These are not safe guides.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, 413
“You are guided by your feelings and are governed by your experience. … Feelings are a poor criterion, especially when under the control of a strong imagination and firm will.” Ibid., Vol. 3, 68
“The religion of Christ is not a religion of mere emotion. You cannot depend upon your feelings for an evidence of acceptance with God, for feelings are variable. You must plant your feet on the promises of God’s word … and learn to live by faith.” In Heavenly Places, 126
Friends, first we must keep our eyes focused above. Second, we must bury ourselves in the study of the word of God. Third, we must never, never give up prayer. The more we want to reject praying, is the time we most earnestly need to engage in it. And lastly, we must grab the out-stretched hand of God and plead that He will help us to surrender ourselves to Him and His will; seeking every day to turn away from the feelings of our sinful nature and to determine to allow the transformation only He can make in our lives.
“The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character.” The Signs of the Times, October 10, 1906
“Behold in the cross of Christ the only sure guarantee for individual excellence and success.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1112
“God’s only standard of righteousness [His law], [is] the only sure test of character.” Maranatha, 214
“It is God’s purpose that we should be educated by providential experience and be habitual learners, building securely on Jesus Christ, the only sure foundation, which will stand fast forever. … We must claim His righteousness by living faith, and depend on Him and abide in Him alone. … This will scatter our self-sufficiency, our pride and vanity, to the winds.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials (1987), 364
Remember, the Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end, is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12