Feelings – The Dictator

Is it just me, but why are feelings so easy to follow, so easy to fall prey to? Why is it so easy for my feelings to get the best of me? I know better but I don’t do better!! I don’t know about you, but dealing with my feelings is an ongoing battle that I face every day in my life.

I haven’t written a blog in several weeks, just because life has just been crazy hectic for me and well, because I was hyper focused on, you know… or maybe not… the women’s conference. So, as I sat and thought about things that affect us women the most the word FEELINGS flashed in my mind like bright red letters a lot like one of those LED open signs we see at stores or salons. What we struggle with the most about feelings is following them even when we know not to because we know better!! Yet, we still go down the path that it dictates for us.

If you have gotten to know me, you already know I like to find out the definitions of words. I feel like it gives me a much better understanding of what the word consists of in its entirety instead of just giving it my meaning. So, I went in the search of what the word “feeling” meant and ladies I had no idea that it was this thorough in the dictionary. Here it is! The first definition of the word “feeling” is: an emotional state or reaction. Hmmm, emotional… that’s the word of our feelings that gets us into the most trouble…. our feelings take us to react which most of the time is not the best reaction because my feelings get the best of me. Yes, I know, that may have sounded a bit confusing, but just track with me. The word “emotional” is defined as having strong expression or feelings. I think we can all agree that we can have some pretty strong expressions flowing through us from time to time and when our hormones get the best of us…. watch out world because here we come!! But let’s not just stop at the first definition of the word “feelings”. Let’s move past that to the second definition which is: a belief, especially a vague or irrational one. Ok, wait a second, what now? I am taking this straight from the dictionary. It is black and white for us to read and have no questions about it. Our feelings are often a vague and irrational belief. And this, ladies, is what the enemy uses most against us. If he can get you and me into our feelings so that we make it our belief system then he’s won leaving us feeling like God is not good and leaving us feeling like everything that we know we should do better is just too hard to do. The enemy uses our feelings as an exchange. An exchange? Yes, girl, an exchange. He uses our feelings so that we exchange them as the ruler of our lives. Meaning, we exchange our worship from God to the feelings. Meaning that our feelings become our god. Our feelings become the dictator of our lives. And can I tell you a little secret from my own experience? Feelings will not take you to fulfill the purpose that God has for you. Your feelings will not give you victory. Your feelings will not offer you salvation. Your feelings will not heal you mentally or physically. Your feelings will not free you. Why? Because feelings are vague and irrational. Feelings have no faith. Feelings don’t submit themselves to God, they submit themselves to us and then we in turn bow to them.

Over the course of many years, I have had to learn not to react on my feelings. I have had to learn not to be emotional about situations in my life. I have had to learn to be patient, which is one of the hardest things for me to do and wait on God’s direction in every area of my life whether big or small. I have had to learn to allow myself time to process things so that, what I know to do better, I actually do better. I have had to learn how to not replace God’s authority in my life with the authority of my feelings.

For far too long I reacted based on my feelings and the emotions that those feelings provoked. I didn’t process, I didn’t take it to God, I just reacted and if I am absolutely honest many times, I bowed to my feelings so much that it took me to utter depression. I would retract into myself and not want to deal with anyone or anything. My life came to a standstill, and I wasn’t making intentional decisions to get out of the hole I felt I was in. Feelings, if not dealt with correctly will cripple you and you will say things such as: it’s just so hard, I don’t know what to do, I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Feelings, if not dealt with will destroy relationships that you have and hinder you from making new ones. I have struggled with all the above. And while I have learned so much and changed so much, I am still not perfect, and I still struggle with feelings. But I try to the best of my ability to not react and take the time to process things and take it to God first and allow Him to dictate my next step. I allow Him to dictate my steps because He knows what is best for me. He is the only one who truly knows me more than I even know myself and because He does, He will always protect me. So, I go to Him, and I slow my roll. Not an easy feat because He loves to teach me patience, even with my feelings. But when I choose to follow His lead, I always experience growth and blessings instead of stunted growth and depression.

Our future doesn’t rest in our feelings, our future rests in God and Him alone. I am far from where I want to be and I’m sure from where God wants me to be, but I intentionally give Him my all each day and strive to choose Him and His ways for me no matter how hard. Again, I’m nowhere near perfect and I still stumble and fall in the area of feelings, but He’s there every time to catch me, love me, and teach me.

So, girlfriend, it’s time to switch the script on the enemy and dethrone our feelings out of our hearts and lives and place God back on the throne where He belongs. It’s time to be fearless enough to give Him first place and be intentional about letting our feelings know that they need to bow to Him as well.

With love,

Mimi