Fickle Feelings

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.- Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)

I’m so glad you chose to start this study! If someone asked me to share the most important lessons I have learned as a Christian, this would be one of them—that I don’t have to let my feelings and emotions control my behavior. I have learned that I can have emotions without letting them have me. In other words, I can live beyond my feelings!

So, I want to ask you: When you wake up each morning, do you wait to see how you feel before you decide what you will do? Do you think of something sad that happened the night before and allow your sad feelings to set the tone of the day? If you choose to follow your feelings, you won’t end up doing much of what you should do or enjoying what God has for your day.

Emotions are part of being human, however, we don’t have to let our feelings lead us into unhealthy and unwise decisions. We can choose how to deal with them. The truth is, feelings are fickle—they can’t be trusted. You and I can feel one way when we go to bed and wake up feeling an entirely different way. So, making healthy, godly decisions when we feel like doing something else is vital to enjoying a great life.

For years, I simply did what I felt like doing, and it got me into a lot of trouble. But God has taught me how to follow His Word instead of following my emotions. For instance, if someone says something to me that’s hurtful, my feelings may rise up and want to say something hurtful back. Thankfully, God gives us self-control to do the right thing. I don’t always succeed, but I have learned a lot about this and will continue learning all of my life.

In today’s scripture, God tells His people to “choose life.” This means to make decisions that lead to peace, joy, and stability. We learn how to make these decisions as we study His Word and do what it says. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on good things. Do you know that if you choose to think good, positive thoughts, your feelings will actually follow? If you’re struggling with negative feelings toward someone, it will only get worse if you meditate on all of the things they have done wrong. But if you choose to think of the good things about them, your feelings will eventually catch up.

See, each day you live can be a good one. This, of course, doesn’t mean you will not face situations that affect your emotions. You may find yourself in a circumstance that makes you extremely happy and fills your heart with joy. Or something may happen to anger, frighten, or sadden you.

You can’t choose what happens to you, but you have complete control over how you decide to deal with it. You don’t have to feel like doing the right thing in order to choose to do it. You can live beyond your emotions!

Adapted from the book Managing Your Emotions by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer: “Father, thank You for Your amazing Word, and for the ways it teaches me to choose life. No matter the day or the challenge, help me to make great decisions that I will be happy with later—regardless of my feelings in the moment. Please help me to choose a positive mindset based on your Word that will set the rudder for my day. I can only do it with Your help! In Jesus’ name, amen.”