If God allowed His emotions to dictate how He treats us like we do to Him, we would be in a whirlwind of trouble. So why do we let our emotions dictate how we glorify God? Nothing about God changes, right? He has always been the same and forever will be. The way He sees, loves, and hears us also never changes. We know this to be true; we know His promises are forever the same. Yet, we still allow how we feel today to dictate the praise we give.
This is something God has been showing me this year more than ever. I can remember people before telling me “it’s not based on feeling” but that just hasn’t stuck until this year. More so the gravity of how big that statement actually is. The one I hear the most from myself and others is “I feel so far from God”. Well that might be part of your problem, you feel. Now of course if you are not spending time with God, like any relationship you are not going to seem very close to Him. If you are, then you are doing all things right, even if your emotions do not feel like it. Because guess what? Our emotions do not dictate our relationship with God!
It doesn’t matter if you’re feeling down in the dumps or if you are on an all time high. If you are hanging out with God then you are on the right track. I know that’s something I have said a few times this year. “I just don’t feel close to God.” I’m reading, praying, talking, but I just feel I’m getting further away. There are two reasons for this that I was doing during this year. One, I was seeking answers not God, there’s a big difference there. Two, I let my emotions take over and didn’t spend time with God at all.
There were two months this year where seeking answers and not God showed up the most. I was struggling with some information I had found out and didn’t know how to move forward. I would read and ask God but no answer. I would feel like I just wasn’t gaining anything at all from God while I spent time with Him. Soon I realized it was because I was seeking answers not Him. God is the one we should be seeking after. Not answers and not anything He could provide for us. Only God himself, things will work out and follow after that. He even tells us that in His word.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Do I listen? No, not all the time. Sometimes I don’t realize I’m even doing it and God has to remind me being like “hey this isn’t right here.” How often do you do that? How often do you seek answers instead of God’s face?
The other just allowing your emotions to decide what you do for God. How many times do I look at my bible and say “hmm nah I don’t feel like it”? Probably more than I would like to admit. How we feel whether it’s because of a situation going on around us or you woke up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning does not mean that you don’t get to praise God. I know it’s easier said than done but we should choose to seek and praise God no matter how we are feeling today.
In a bad mood, great, read your bible. Don’t know why your friend stopped talking to you, great, talk to God. We get to still communicate with Him no matter how we feel. So let’s do it. Even when we don’t want to, try it anyway. I know good things will come from it if you do. There have been plenty of times I have woken up where reading my bible and talking to God is the last thing I want to do. When I chose to do it anyway, I usually always come out better on the other end. Our relationship with God is just like any relationship we may have here on earth. If we base our love for them on emotion it is sure to falter, fade, and just not exist some days. It is a choice of choosing. Choosing to be with that person, to be with God no matter your emotion.
