Emotions... really? Can we trust them, I think not.

Rejoice in the Lord always... Let your gentleness be evident to all... Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus... And the God of peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:4-9

I came across this verse today, not by coincidence, but by God answering a prayer that I couldn't even pray.  In my quiet time this morning, I had to just sit and ask for intercessory prayer from the Holy Spirit because I have been so overwhelmed by my emotions lately that I can't even think straight enough to pray. Don't get me wrong, things are good, no actually, they are GREAT so this isn't about anything falling apart or anything bad happening in my life.  This is simply about emotion and how it can derail us without a moment's notice because by definition, it is subjective, which limits our ability to trust our "feelings." I will have to admit, I have been ruled by my emotions for the last several days, which have been exaggerated by exhaustion and that's all bad.  And I know I have to find a way out of this funk (which is truly based on NOTHING important and by important, I just mean real or valid...so I keep saying to myself.. "Amy, get over yourself, this is stupid...") So I found myself going back to God's Word this morning, looking for peace from the emotions that I know are not the truth, and the really neat thing is, when I sought His wisdom about this and how crazy I'm feeling, He gave me peace... peace that surpasses my own understanding, peace that shows me it's all okay, peace that shows me I'm within His will for my life, peace that shows me that even though it may not be an easy path, He will bring me through it.  Peace... isn't that a wonderful thing?

So, the lesson for today... Let's not get caught up by our emotions in the heat of the moment and let that rule our hearts.  2 Corinthians 10:5 says "We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  We are weak human beings and can take something simple and make it into a catastrophe, and lets be honest, especially as women, we can have a huge tendency to do this.  So we have to stay focused on making our thoughts obedient to the Lord. Stop reading between the lines.  Stop sabotaging things that are going well. Stop believing the lies we've been telling ourselves... you aren't good enough, you don't deserve it, you aren't lovable, you cant handle ____, whatever lie you are struggling with, give that burden to God. Nancy Leigh DeMoss has a great study called Lies Women Believe that talks about practical ways to overcome the lies we have been conditioned to believe and I'm thinking maybe it's time to do it again....  The struggle is real for so many women, and we need to know the truth of God's Word in order to overcome it.   Psalm 46:10 says "Be still and know that I am God."  So when we are struggling with something, sometimes we have to just give it to Him and wait.  Waiting is hard, it's not fun, but it's worth it.  His timing is perfect and He has a plan, we just have to learn to trust Him enough to stay focused on the truth of His Word and not get caught up in an emotional moment that may have damaging consequences.  We have to be in tune with the Lord so that we can discern when our feelings aren't in line with what we know to be true,  We have to know that our feelings can deceive us and take us somewhere (quickly) that we don't even want to go.  We have to know that we have God's grace to allow us to not be controlled by our emotions.  We have to know that no matter how we feel, we can choose to take our thoughts captive and let God control our emotions, afterall, He is way better at it than we will ever be... just sayin!!!

I am so thankful that I have the Lord in my life to lean on, and He knows me better than anyone, and can fulfill my every need.  It is a huge relief to know that when something is lacking in my life, He is where I turn, He has the answers, He knows what he's doing with my life... I love knowing I don't have to be in control and that I can submit that control to Him and achieve a greater peace than I could ever know if I was doing this on my own.  I love my Lord!!!

Yeah, it's been a while...

As I sit here staring at a blank screen, I wonder who will even read what I write.  It's been so long since I've blogged that I'm not sure who my audience is anymore so I'll just write and see where that goes....

My heart is burdened for things and people that God has placed on my heart.  People that are hurting, people that are lost, people that KNOW God and claim to follow Him but trust their own feelings to lead them through decisions in life.  So I have been praying a LOT more than usual for the last couple of weeks and while some things have come to light, some things are still about as clear as mud.

I do know one thing though, when we trust Him, and his timing, we can't go wrong... but the mistake we CAN so easily make is acting on our 'feelings" and thinking that must be what He wants.  Feelings are so misleading, they are the heat of the moment, what "I" want right now, self-satisfying, it "feels" right, so it must be where God is leading me, "Right?" Umm, no... WRONG.  Jeremiah 10:23 says I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  I wonder why we try so hard to figure things out on our own then?  God gives us discernment through prayer, he gives us direction through His Word, he leads us down a path that our "feelings" often get us very quickly off of.  I wonder how many opportunities God has given me, that I have jumped right off that path because something else "felt" like it would be fun, or right, or romantic, or exciting or just that the grass appeared to be greener on the other side?  Don't get me wrong, I don't regret the choices I've made in the past (there are some I could definitely have skipped that don't seem to have taught me anything or led me to where I am today), because I have an amazing life right where I am.  But I don't want to live outside of God's will for my life and I don't want to veer off of that path again.  Someone recently said to me "I don't want to miss the one shot at an opportunity that God has given me to be ..."  I won't finish that quote because it was pretty specific to one situation and I want to keep this pretty broad... I wonder though, how many shots we have missed because we let our feelings take over instead of listening to God?  Anything from fear of the unknown, of being hurt, of hurting someone else, of not being able to do the job well, of taking a risk that would be putting our family's stability up for grabs to truly follow God's path for us.  And I also know that God works for the good of those who love Him even when we make the wrong choices (Romans 8:28).  But I don't want to live with the best God can make out of the wrong choices anymore, I want to be in the right place at the right time so I can be exactly where he wants me to be!!

So, the question of the decade is how do we stay there, in God's Will for us, without losing sight of that and trusting our feelings and thinking that is what He wants for us?  God has shown me that to be able to truly follow Him and to be open to hearing what he has for me, I have to be content with exactly where I am in my current circumstances; "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6.  We need to know WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST ALONE, not as a mom, dad, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, son, daughter, co-worker, boss, employee, but who we are in Him alone and where He has us in life today.  We need to make time for him and be in The Word daily so that we can be prepared for each day by being filled with Him, you've heard the phrase, "You can't pour out into others, if you haven't filled your daily cup!" or "if you are running on empty, what do you have to pour from?" or something to that effect... Your day just goes smoother when you are able to pull from what He has given you for that day.  Reflect on the truth of His Word throughout the day and don't get caught up in your emotions and stray from that truth.  It's so easy to do, and we are all guilty of it!! Why settle for good when you can have God's best?  Seek his truth so you can have His best for you!!  

What is your biggest fear?

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7

So, I ask, what is your greatest fear?  What rattles you to the core and causes you to freeze in the face of it?  Mine is rejection.  Rejection can come in many forms, job prospects, friendships, romantic interests, and so on but mine is rejection in intrapersonal relationships.  This might surprise those of you that know me but I'm so afraid of being rejected, or disliked in any fashion that I'm afraid to step out of my comfort zone and really make a connection with someone new.  Now, you all are probably saying "Yeah, right.." but seriously, I CAN talk to a brick wall, and I'll make polite small talk to a stranger in the grocery line or in a waiting room any day of the week but I'm afraid to put myself out there when I start a new friendship with anyone because I don't want to be rejected. Once I make a new connection with someone, I don't ever want to give up on that because I truly love people and want to keep the people God puts in my life around!!  And yes, once you get to know me, I am an open book; it's hard for me to imagine being any other way.  But the initial reaching out and offering myself to someone to build a relationship with them, PETRIFYING!!!  

One of the hardest times in my life was going through my divorce, I had to deal with being rejected and left behind.  Some of that fear was from the unknown, some from the unavoidable changes that were coming, but mostly it was my greatest fear coming to fruition, I had been completely rejected.  God really used that time to show me that my fear of rejection by people here on earth, wasn't what I should be focusing on, He wanted my focus to be on HIM because he will never forsake or reject us when we are truly His children! God constantly brought me back to Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The amazing thing about God's timing is that I was in a Bible study group with some really amazing women and God used my experience to immediately minister to other women, and isn't that what it is all about?  I drew my strength from Him, without God as my strength, I would have never made it so seamlessly through that huge change in my life.  My focus stayed on Him and doing the right thing for my kids.  I know people that seem to still not have conquered the sense of failure that can stem from a marriage being destroyed, and the only thing I can offer is God brought me THROUGH it...not out of it, not around it, but through it.  I was extremely fearful of the unknown but knowing God was on my side made it so much easier. 

All relationships are hard, but they are also what makes our life here on earth worth living.  God made us emotional human beings to interact and develop deep interpersonal relationships with one another.  He allows us to experience things in our lives, both extremely good and deeply horrible things so that we might be able to share in those experiences through meaningful relationships with one another.  Believing Romans 8:28, that God uses all things for His good, encourages me by knowing that even though I may be going through something really tough, God will use that to help someone else through a similar circumstance; or He may just be really trying to teach me something that I need in my life to get through a future situation!  But either way, I trust Him completely with everything that I go through, and will be made more like Him through each thing!!

So, my question to you, what can you do with what you fear the most, to make you stronger and help others with your knowledge?  I can tell you that I originally wrote this post about a year and a half ago, and it's so amazing to me to see how God has changed me... I no longer fear rejection, but understand that it is a natural (not fun, but sometimes necessary..) part of life and the blessings I have received from cultivating some really meaningful relationships SO outweigh what I would have felt if they had rejected me.  I don't want to miss any of the blessings God has for me, so I am investing in relationships more than I ever thought possible today... I want God to continue to help me invest in people, my kids, my friends, my family, my future spouse whenever He brings him into my life, and any other person that God can use me to help through a tough time.

Sound of Your Voice...

So I know I've already posted today but I just can't get enough of God's Word and I want to talk about it!!!  I love having a fire and passion for the Lord, and I love when I hear a worship song and it gives me chills... my latest musical obsession is the Courageous soundtrack...  I could listen to Sound of Your Voice until the cd wears out.  I just love that song right now.  You know how, well, maybe you do (I guess this assumes I actually have an audience too but hey...) a song will just speak to you and you KNOW it's the Lord??? LOVE that... I so wish I could sing... I'd love to just praise God in song and not be afraid of someone hearing me...it is that bad.. I promise I will not subject you to it, I only sing loudly with abandon in my car with the radio up so loud I can't even hear my self!!!  I'm listening to it right now, and I have chills, love raising my arms up toward the heavens and just loving my God and being in so much awe that even when we run away from Him, he waits for us... Can you imagine the patience?  I can't... I'll be honest, patience is NOT my gift.  I guess that's why God keeps telling me, "Be still, Amy, and KNOW that I AM GOD!!"  (And yes, I hear him telling me that all the time...even right now...) Apparently I've prayed for patience one too many times!!!  I know His timing is perfect and I am willing to wait, no matter how much it makes me squirm with impatience... I CAN do it!  


So anyway, back to the song... Here are the lyrics so you can have an idea of where I'm heading with this...

I ran away from your love

But you waited for me

Yes, you waited for me

And then I heard your song

Singing over me

Singing over me

Now that I hear you, Lord

I want to know you more

I want to know you more

Sing your song to me

Oh, there's no greater thing

Than to listen to the sound of your voice

When I hear your song

I want to sing along

And listen to the sound of your voice

The sound of your voice

Lord, I am calling your name

And I'm waiting for you

Yes, I'm waiting for you

So won't you show me your way

And I will follow you

Yes, I will follow you

Singing over me

Bringing peace and mercy

With a song that never ends

Singing over me

Marvelous and holy

Lord, I want to hear your song again

I love how He waits on us, last Sunday I used the illustration of God's will having a path for us that is an extremely well paved expressway (made of gold even), and when we stay on that path, it leads directly and swiftly to  Him...but he knew even before He created us, which detours we would take, some of them are little side of the highway pit stops and we get right back on, while others are down a beaten up gravel road or a muddy trail full of pot holes... but no matter how far off of the golden paved highway we get, it's never too far for God to give us a way back.  He is always there, always waiting, holding his hand out for us to reach up to him and take a hold and not let go.  There is no sin to awful that he would ever choose to not redeem us from.  There is always peace and mercy to be received from our God, all we have to do is listen, and follow, he will guide us and never forsake us.  

So that's it, promise!!  I just wanted to share what God was doing in my life today through this one song.  It applies to so many circumstances, which of course, I am joyful of as my previous post shared..., and the neat thing about it, is God's word always applies to our lives in so many ways, ones we don't even realize... so just let Him show you His way, love him, worship him with abandon, sing those worship songs, read his word, pray (talk) with him constantly!!!  Let Him teach you His ways, they are such a smoother ride than doing things our own way!!!!!

Do you want to know him more??