Pictures by: Comicskingdom.com
Since we are a week away from Valentines Day, I wanted to write this week’s post on a topic that I have struggled with all of my life. Even now I find myself facing a battle of wills in the face of some of my life’s challenges. The struggle is real and it’s also an uphill battle. I wish I had known these things earlier on, but when we are kids, we all learn that our feelings are the most important factors in our being comfortable and happy in life. Yet, I am here to contradict that a bit by telling you that, just because it feels good, does not mean it is good.
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.” Romans 8:7
Everyone knows about the “In My Feelings” challenge that was inspired by the Drake song. We all watched the craziness of people doing the dance beside moving vehicles and beside cliffs, and all types of places. And basically, all this happened based on Drake begging KiKi to give him a chance at love. We have all been in our feelings at one, two, or a thousand different times in our lives and in all honesty, we were not thinking about God, in those moments. Our sights were set on a human target. Our bodies were going crazy because our minds(feelings) were so tied up in the what if’s that that person may bring to our lives. I mean we practically were envisioning that whole running toward each other in slow motion fantasy when we would thought about them right? Then what do we do when our fantasy does not meet the reality and those stars in our eyes slowly start to change to what we truly got ourselves into? How can we decipher the initial good feelings with the long-term dedication to build on something that is not necessarily what you had envisioned? We have to look beyond what feels good to understand what is truly good.
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” … Genesis 3:1-11
In looking at this text, I think the first mistake that Eve made was to converse with the enemy. How many of you have fallen for things or people just from conversation? The home shopping network is a billion dollar industry because the co-founders, Roy Speer and Bud Paxson recognized that there were lonely people out there, up at all times of the night, yearning for conversation. So, what did they do you ask? They created a channel that shows seemingly everyday people who could be your friends, family members, neighbors coming by to chit-chat about how great a product was to them. This is how crafty the enemy is. He comes to us looking like…US! So then when we are having a bad day, or just got some news or just in a fully relaxed mode, here he comes with normal conversation (or so we think). Oh, how we all have been fooled by normal conversation right? So many people have wasted countless dollars on things that made them feel good when looking at it on television but was not good when they got it at their homes to use it.
Being wrapped up in our flesh, does come with many challenges. We are all human after all, and we all love to feel good. So many people always question why God allows for pain when He has the power to make everything feel good to us all of the time. But we must realize that God is not our little genie in a bottle. He as our Father and Creator, must give us challenges to ensure we do not have an “Eve” moment all the time. Everything that He allows to happen to us down here are always for a reason. And yes, sometimes the enemy is allowed to try to tempt us to bring about growth and maturity within us. Now, God is not for us being wrapped up in feelings and emotions, especially when they tend to take us away from Him instead of closer to Him. He wants the absolute best for us, and that includes the trials and tribulations that challenge our feelings. Have you ever really thought about how confusing your feelings are compared to what God has spoken about us?
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16
In conclusion, I would ask that you approach this Valentine’s Day in a Godly mindset instead of being all in your feelings. And not just for Valentine’s Day, but everyday we must walk that line between what feels good and what is good. Yes, it feels good to be wanted, liked, followed, and commented on. But, how are you when you are by yourself without all the applause? God applauds us constantly when we decide to be obedient and have faith in Him. And it’s not always in a pretty, sweet-smelling package. Yet, His love lasts longer than a box of chocolates and bouquet of flowers. Doesn’t the crown of life sound much sweeter than anything we could receive here? God goes beyond our feelings and always gives us pure goodness, remember that. Have a great week and as usual you know you got this!
Sincerely,
Terryn
MODERN FAITHERELLA 