Faith and Feelings

It’s difficult but critical to discern what I truly believe and will stand/act upon and what I feel. It seems like for so many people faith and truth are determined by feeling; ‘it can’t be true if it doesn’t feel true’. What an unreliable, easily manipulated determinant.
1 Peter 1:25 …but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light…
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
John 17:17 ……Your word is truth.
Ps.16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
I can think I know what I want and what would be good, but ultimately God is the One who knows. I want to want what He wants for me. God knows better than I do what makes me feel good, what makes me happy, what I really need and want.  Isa. 55:8-9; Heb. 4:13
Feelings are a part of discerning what God wants but not the most reliable. Just as true love is a choice more than a feeling, what makes me fulfilled and happy is more by choice than feeling.
Eg. contentment  Phil. 4:13
THEREFORE, “we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
Feelings come and feelings go,
and feelings are deceiving;
my warrant is the Word of God –
naught else is worth believing.
Though all my heart should feel condemned
for want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.
I’ll trust in God’s unchanging Word
’till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away
His Word shall stand forever!
                                                  Martin Luther

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