Feelings Versus the Truth

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (New King James Version)

Just under a week ago, I asked God to show me what was wrong with me. For some reason, I was not connecting with some basic truths and I did not know what that reason was. Truth was making its way into my head but not affecting my life. Struggles were still struggles. Issues were still issues. I felt like I was standing still in certain areas of my life. I couldn’t figure it out so I turned to the One who could.

Recently I have been reading a book by Neil Anderson entitled Who I Am In Christ. As I read that I was called, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and so forth, the words remained just words to me. I wanted them to be life changing but they remained distant and foreign sounding, until I read a sentence that caused the light to finally come on. He wrote that he often asks a person who is struggling to forgive how the other person’s actions made him feel. It is essential for us to see the necessity of knowing that, for how we feel is what we perceive ourselves to be. What we perceive is what we eventually believe to be true about ourselves and what we believe to be true is what we will act upon. People will always act out of what they believe to be true about themselves.

It was then that I looked back and saw that with each heartache, hurt, disappointment, and loss, I felt a certain way and saw myself in a certain way. What I often saw was a person who was worthless, unlovable, unwanted, and disgusting. What I thought to be true became truth to me. My answer was often to find someone who could make me feel differently about myself and that was a futile search. What I am now realizing is that how I feel does NOT determine what or who I am. God determines that and His Word is full of the real truth! When I began to see what God was saying about me, all the lies began to lose their grip.

My feelings and emotions will never be trustworthy sources for me. If given the chance they will always paint a false picture. I have spent too many years of my life believing the false pictures and am finally being impacted by the portrait God has painted. This is a turning point for me. This is profound and life changing. Many have tried to tell me what God has finally helped me to understand. As with any spiritual truth, until God opens our eyes and ears we remain blind and deaf.

Father, I have thought the worst of myself and believed every lie. Thank you for helping me to see what my problem was. I see the truth and it is setting me free. Praise You! Amen.

Who Am I? - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqKp314B8DM&feature=related

Fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!