Feelings

One of the biggest challenges in the Christian life is overcoming our feelings.  Now, there is nothing wrong with feelings.  They were given to us by God to bring intensity and diversity to our lives.  Who really wants to live life without feelings?  I don't!  Feelings help us to experience life to its fullest.  However, the fact is that many times feelings get in the way of our spiritual growth.  There are dozens of examples of this where we let feelings run the show - we don't pray, read our Bible or go to the church because we don't feel like it, we don't praise God or give thanks to Him because our heart is not in it, we don't forgive others because we can't seem to summon the desire to, etc.  The fact is that if we wait to do the things that we should in the Christian life until we feel like it - we will never get around to doing them!  What God desires of us is that we overcome our feelings and to do in obedience that which we are supposed to do - pray, read, forgive, etc. - even when we don't feel like it.  The amazing aspect of all this is that many times, if we do the right thing in the absence of feelings, the feelings will come afterward!  Remember - obedience first, feelings second.  It is the pathway to transformation and deepening our walk with God.