A friend of mine and I were having a little chat after the service on Sunday.We got onto the topic of feelings and how some of them can overwhelm us and subsequently control us. I used to despise being what most people call a “feeler”. Naturally, that’s because most of the feelings I had were self-involved, negative, and growth-stunting.
We discussed how to discern what is a useful feeling and what is not. Sidebar if you will; I can give some pretty solid advice from time to time, but believe me, I don’t always use the wisdom God gave me and follow it. Maybe writing about it will root it a little more deeply into my character.
I believe that all feelings originate as the product of the thoughts we entertain. What we see and hear can often be what seeds a thought into our minds. We don’t have to water those seeds. We know that there is one who travels to and fro upon the earth seeking that which he can destroy. It takes very little effort for that guy to plant rotten seeds, but we are the only ones who have the power to decide whether they will grow in the fertile soil of our minds.
Thoughts that encourage, edify, and exalt others, ourselves, and God are worthwhile. We can express them and make them fruitful. We can meditate on them day and night. We help others grow, we grow ourselves, and relationships with God flourish.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Phil. 4:8 ESV
