Peace vs. Fear

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." ~ John 14:27

There's a difference between feeling the emotion of fear and letting it live in our hearts. Feelings can be fleeting. They change based on circumstances. But our hearts are the very core of our being.

God promises to give us peace, even in the midst of having feelings of fear. We can rest in the fact that we know the one who knows the end. But only if we don't allow fear to grip our hearts. 

Is your heart gripped with peace or fear today?

God bless,

J.W.

Beyond Our Feelings

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." ~ James 1:2-3

What a statement! 

Count it all joy when you fall into trials? What type of other worldly, counter cultural thinking is that? The world teaches us to act based on our feelings. But this scripture shows that God challenges us to think and act beyond our feelings and abide in truth.

No matter what you're going through, there's a reason to be grateful and to even find joy. For even when it doesn't look like it on the outside, God is doing a mighty work on the inside. Man looks at the outward appearance but God sees the heart. It's where he does his best work.

God bless,

J.W.

Truth Over Feelings

 

Notice what today's scripture doesn't say. It doesn't say have positive feelings towards those who curse you. Or like praying for those who spitefully use you. Because while God understands our feelings, He cares more about how we respond to them. We might feel a certain way about other people, but God also knows that we can choose how we respond. Our actions don't have to match our feelings. It requires maturity to follow this path, but ultimately that's God's goal - to grow us up in the faith and make us look more like Him. 

Watch how you respond today.

God bless,

J.W.

#PassionWeek - #Thursday - "I'm Searching for a Real Love"

Today, 2014 years ago, Jesus washed his disciples feet in an expression of love. Afterwards, He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

Unfortunately, however, our generation has distorted and perverted what it means to love someone.

We talk about it like it’s some fleeting emotion that we fall in and out of.

But truth be told, love is not an emotion.

It’s a series of behaviors by which we provide a service to others.

For instance, God didn’t love us simply by verbally or internally expressing his feelings towards us. Rather, John 3:16 says He loved us by giving his His Son’s life for us. God performed an act of service for us, which John 15:13 explains is the ultimate expression of love.

My question: when you say you love someone, are you saying you just have positive feelings towards them? Because that’s not real love. Real love is action. It’s not about what you say or feel, it’s about what you do. #PassionWeek #Thursday #EasterIsComing

God bless,
J.W.

So Emotional

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." ~ Psalm 51:5

Often times, as humans, we think that because something feels natural to us, that it’s the right thing to do. We say things like, “follow your first instinct,” “whatever feels right to you,” or “if it feels right, do it,” as a way to facilitate this philosophy.

But the Bible says that we were born in sin and shaped in iniquity. Our natural state is sinful.

Emotions can be fleeting and feelings can change, but the Word is always consistent. That’s why we need to look to the Bible and God’s Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the right direction we ought to go.

Wouldn’t you rather base life’s decision on something solid and stable rather than something that changes with the wind? I know I would.

God bless,
J.W.

What do you think? Was this helpful? Is there something to be said about a woman’s intuition or a gut feeling? Am I totally wrong? Let me know what you think – I love to hear from my readers. And please share this message with others if you think it will help them. Thanks so much and God bless!