One of the most DANGEROUS THREATS to Christians committed to walking with Christ is in spotlight as we head into the home stretch of our year-end FAITH INVENTORY. Here it is:
Taming the ferocious fury of FEELINGS and MOODS that knock on our door every day with a reminder to “feel this, feel that, feel life.”
The world’s engine runs on feelings that rain down on all of us every day:
- “Trouble coming? Turn it away with a new feeling.”
- “Don’t like your mood? Swap it out for a new set of feelings.”
Christians are not immune to the feelings factory that opens for business every day and never closes. But God does not leave us defenseless.
There is NO AMBIGUITY in God’s Word when it comes to feelings. The Bible commands us to tame our emotions, seek the Lord’s mercy, and rejoice in the hope of Christ.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
So how do we avoid MOOD MADNESS in 2022?
Start by recognizing—and then truly BELIEVING–that not all feelings are created equal and not all feelings are Godly. It’s true! We cannot trust every feeling that cruises through the cinema of our mind or parks in the crowded chambers of our heart.
CS Lewis calls this a “blitz on our faith.”
That’s why one of my goals for 2022 is to correctly and quickly—according to God’s Word—identify my feelings and the moods they spawn.
After truly believing that not all feelings are Godly and then correctly identifying them in our life, the next step is to summon the HOPE of Christ (1 Peter 1:13). Here’s why:
Feelings are HOPE’s kryptonite. They rob us of the future-focused hope that God has something good coming to us.
We activate God’s truths and the hope of Christ through PRAYER.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength…” Ephesians 1:18-19
I want to avoid “mood madness” in my life during 2022 by identifying my feelings early and then turning on the hope of Christ through a commitment to prayer.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Will you commit in 2022 to identify your feelings and moods early and then summon the hope of Christ through prayer?
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
