Whether we admit it or not, we operate by emotion. Our comfort level, attitude, and efficience are largely determined by how we feel. Getting the feel of your faith enables you to be confident and comfortable with your spiritual condition. It determines your influence, where and how often you attend church services, and what you do for the Lord.
We have to learn the limits of our faith, and how to stay within its bounds. We need to complete our belief by mixing it with the practical application. We must discover the difference between the feel of faith and the feel of circumstances. People often confuse the feel of difficult situations with their belief in God. One of the greatest lessons in the Book of Job is that difficult circumstances should not affect our faith in God. Although he lost everything he had except his life and his wife, his faith remained strong.
We must get the feel of what we believe. Just how much do you believe. The story is told of a man on a tight rope at a circus. The announcer told of his ability to walk on the rope blindfolded and it was demonstrated before their eyes. The tightrope walker then pushed a wheelbarrow ahead of him. The announcer asked "Who is willing to get in the wheelbarrow?"
It was one thing to believe in the man's ability to push the wheelbarrow on the rope blindfolded and it was something different to be willing to get in it! How much do you believe that the Lord will supply all your needs? How much do you believe in the biblical promise that your God watches over you and protects you? There are many practical questions like this that come up often, and we must search our soul for the answers.
We also need to examine just what we believe. Sometimes we feel confident in our belief but when confronted by someone who believes something different, we discover we are not as sure as we thought. Why did Adam and Eve fall from God's favor? Was it because they didn't believe in God? Certainly not, it's obvious they believed because they talked to him. They knew that he is real. Then what didn't they believe? They didn't believe that the day they ate of the forbidden fruit they would die!
Sometimes we confuse physical and spiritual feelings. We may know of the good we ought to do for the Lord but we are tired or our favorite TV show is starting. Faith is something we feel inside us, but how do we know that our inspiration of the moment is from God or one of Satan's tricks? We must learn to judge such matters by biblical principles, priorities and common sense
There will be times that we feel like we are on a mountain top and at other times as low as a serpent's belly. Sometimes we can't forgive ourselves for the sins we have committed and our stupid mistakes. We may believe we can do no wrong at other times. We must not permit our moods and feelings to interfere with our faith. It's all about getting the feel of our faith.
The first thing we need to do to keep faith from going up and down according to feelings is to be thoroughly grounded in Scripture. Don't rely on what others say about spiritual matters. Even those knowledgeable about the truth can be misunderstood. Relying on second-hand information can cause havoc with your faith.
We have all known Christians that make themselves miserable worrying about bad things that may happen. Though they read the promises of God to supply our needs it doesn't soak in. Jesus addressed this subject in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34. He gives the example of the Father taking care of the needs of the birds and the lilies of he field. He specifically instructs us not to worry but to trust the Lord to supply our needs.
Getting the feel of your faith is to recognize who you belong to. You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1CO 6:17). This means you will avoid willing sins and make him the Lord of our life. You will let him control your actions. You will give your problems to Jesus and quit worrying about them. You will let him show you how to work them out. You will accept the fact that you are forgiven, and serve him with joy.
This article was adapted from in the book, "Climbing the heavenly Stairs." Develop faith that is solid and reliable. Learn more by clicking on the following link: http://www.thelynnbradleybook.com.
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareHow many Christian people do you know who are bearing... Read More
Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God... Read More
When the Tsunami struck Asia and East Africa on December... Read More
Recently, I received a frantic midnight call from one of... Read More
Life, no matter how we choose to look at it,... Read More
Worldwide extensive research is being published related to the mind-body... Read More
IS FAITH - NOT VITAMIN C WHAT'S MISSING FROM YOUR... Read More
In today's world we worry about everything, food, jobs, clothing,... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the... Read More
In a recent case study which I also summarized in... Read More
John Eldredge writes in his book Waking the Dead, "God... Read More
We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on... Read More
Matthew 2:19-23 The Return to Nazareth19 But when Herod died,... Read More
Mormons like to give testimonies. Unlike Mormon testimonies, I will... Read More
Everyday I am challenged to find the good in things:... Read More
Hiking is gaining popularity within the African-American community. We're beginning... Read More
I know eyebrows are probably raising about now, but let... Read More
Shamanism is an ancient form of mysticism. Although... Read More
Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and... Read More
My favorite scripture is Roman's 8:28. "And we know that... Read More
Is your hope in God? Or, is it in people?I... Read More
The Birth of Jesus Christ18 Now the birth of Jesus... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Talked to an interesting person today at a coffee shop,... Read More
In the interest of mankind the Angels are delivering messages... Read More
It will all be clear in a minute, but first... Read More
Oceans... There's water in 'em! :-)It may seem a bit... Read More
What the Animals Tell Us"I am the Sun's son. I... Read More
One of the things I have had to deal with... Read More
Perhaps one of the most wonderful assertions that can be... Read More
Everyone is busy nowadays. It's hard to find time for... Read More
Heaven is a place of abundance and earth is a... Read More
There is an old tradition song called, The Lighthouse and... Read More
One of the saddest times in any child's life is... Read More
"Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as... Read More
I was in the bank's vault. The Brink's armored truck... Read More
It seems more people today are using the Christian god... Read More
There I was living in a tiny bedroom in my... Read More
Most of life can be said to be bad, or... Read More
Many of you already own several lucky charms or talismans.... Read More
Today I was in rather a whimsical mood, and so... Read More
One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people... Read More
Talking about your "soul" and the deeper things in life... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
Among some of us who deem ourselves spiritual, the use... Read More
Prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United... Read More
Knowing what is right and what is wrong in your... Read More
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, "Go, assemble... Read More
Spirituality |