Choose Truth

I’m an emotional lady. I cry at church pretty much every Sunday, cry at songs on the radio and movies often, cry when I see other people crying…you get the picture. I’ve always been very sensitive and wear my heart on my sleeve. My now husband had to learn this early on in our relationship. Poor guy. I know that God made me this way, but these big emotions get me into trouble sometimes. They lead me astray. Let me explain.

It is very easy to go down the wrong path when I am driven by my feelings. If I am feeling hurt, then I might naturally want to be hurtful in return. If I’m feeling sad, then I might want to have a pity party for myself. Yet, as a believer in Jesus, this does not bring glory to Him. When I let my emotions rule, then I am stuck inside my own head and focused on me, not on Him, and not on those He has called me to love around me. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says ‘And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and was raised again.’ What happens when I have a self-centered view instead of one focused on Jesus? I don’t love others well. I am too concerned with my own situation and feelings that I am not an encourager and servant to those around me. I’m too busy worrying about my inner struggles, that I don’t have time to love others the way God calls me to love them.

So what can I do to take my focus off of me and on to Jesus? I need to use God’s truth to replace my negative emotions. I recently heard Lysa Terkurst (Proverbs 31 ministries) say, ‘Lies flee in the presence of truth.’ I need to call to mind God’s promises to me and trust that what He says is true, no matter how I feel. I might feel lonely, but He says I am never alone even for one second. I might feel insignificant, but He says I am deeply loved and special. I might feel ugly, but He says I am a masterpiece and He looks at my heart. I might feel weak, but He says I can do anything through Him. I might feel insecure, but He says I find my identity in Him and am His daughter. I might not feel like forgiving someone, but He says I must forgive because He has forgiven me (many many times). The point is, many of my emotions can lead me away from God’s truth. I have to fight off the natural urge to let my emotions rule and tell myself ’Truth over emotions. Truth over emotions.’ This has become my mantra.

The bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, ’the heart is deceitful above all things.’ That means that my own heart, deceives me. That is scary to think about. Not to be a ‘Debbie Downer,’ but the popular phrase ‘follow your heart’ is actually not biblical. For those who put their hope in Christ, it should be ‘follow God’s truth and promises’ instead. This is a newer truth for me. I definitely lived by the ‘follow your heart’ philosophy of the world for probably the first 20+ years of my life, but it led me into poor decisions and sin and therefore consequences. Can you relate? Images of failed relationships come to mind for me, my heart feeling shattered to pieces. We have to learn to sift our feelings through the lens of God’s word. If our feelings do not gel with His truth or commands, then we have to ’take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). This takes practice. This might mean praying immediately, calling a friend who keeps you accountable, memorizing verses to call to mind, etc. I can promise you that you CAN do this. God says so. You ‘can do all things through Christ who gives you strength’ (Philippians 4:13). You CAN take your thoughts captive and grab hold of God’s truth and refocus on the things that bring Him glory. I don’t do this perfectly, but the more I’ve practiced, the easier it has become to quickly switch my thinking. The more I choose to call to mind God’s loving truth and faithfulness regardless of how I feel, the easier it becomes to turn to Him instead of my emotions.

Ladies, we can CHOOSE. Each time we have an unhealthy thought, or a lie the enemy has placed in our heads, we can choose to dwell on it or squash it. We can choose to go down the ‘feelings road’ into self pity or anger or jealousy, etc. OR we can choose to grab hold of God’s perfect truth and the promises He speaks over our lives. I invite you to join me in choosing to not be a woman driven by the ups and downs of her emotions, but a woman who stands firm and steadfast on God’s truth. Jesus says ’the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32). Be free ladies, not a prisoner to your emotions. Be the strong woman of God He created you to be.

Love, 

Kristi Brooks

At-Home Study: adapted from 'Advent: Born is The King' plan from She Reads Truth

Pray: ask God to reveal Himself to you through the scriptures, to help you receive the message He has specifically for you today.

Read: each passage twice in 2-3 different translations.

{Day 1} Isaiah 9:6-7

{Day 2} Genesis 2:8-9

{Day 3} Genesis 4:1-16

{Day 4} Genesis 12:1-4

{Day 5} Genesis 14:17-24

Observe: What is happening? What catches your attention? What is the message of this passage?What thoughts or feelings does it provoke?

Reflect: Why do these things catch your attention? Why do you feel or think certain things from reading it?

Apply: What does this say about God? What does it say about people? What does it say about God's plan for us? What does this mean for you? How can you apply what God is saying to you?

Why and How Should I Tell Others?

I read through the book of Revelation last year in a Bible study group. It was confusing, terrifying, and then opened up to such beauty and hope that my life felt different with this new understanding of the end of the story. I felt compelled to share, but conflicted because of the intense and graphic nature of this book of the Bible. How exactly do you let people know that you believe that the end of the world is coming with horrific beasts and monsters, but if they believe in Jesus there will be streets paved with gold?

God calls us to share his message because his mercy and love is for all his children and he wants us all to come back home. But sharing that message will look different and sound different for each of us.

My dad died suddenly and unexpectedly this summer. My family was together getting ready to celebrate the fourth of July at the family cabin. Instead of watching the fireworks display over the lake we buried the leader of my family: the oldest son, the big brother to five siblings, my one and only dad. Normal life stopped as we tried to make sense of this new reality. Who were we all now without him? How could any of us feel joy or see good in this world? It was in these times that I found verses from Revelation and other places in the Bible coming out of me as if it were my own words.

I sat on the couch with my uncle and told him that I didn't know exactly what heaven would be like, but I believed in it and I believed that Jesus has gone before us and prepared rooms for all of us in his father's home. (John 14: 1-4). I laid in bed next to my mom and told her that one day God would wipe every tear from our eyes as tears poured down our cheeks. (Revelation 21:4). I told my sons when they couldn't sleep that Papa was now in a place where there was never night or darkness or reason to fear because God is a glorious light that fills every corner. (Revelation 21:23-25). And I told my grandmother who had lost her husband a year and a half before losing her oldest son, that nothing could separate her from the love God has for her (Romans 8:38-39). I told her not to grow weary of doing good and not to doubt her faith, (Galatians 6:9). She has been our family's arrow to Jesus and even her terrible grief is not enough to make that change.

I could say these things because I knew they were true. I didn't have to search for words of comfort for those grieving all around me because the words - God's words - just came out of me. I had read, studied, prayed and when the unimaginable happened I had my heavenly father's comfort to offer to others. I didn't have to look for an opening to share God's truth - I had to speak as I watched His children grieve and question and cry out for answers.

As time has passed and the shock gave way to a different stage of grief, my resolve grew a little shaky, my hope a little dull, my urgency to share a little less important. My Lord felt distant and silent, but even then I had God's word to rely on. Like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses's arms when he grew weary I found support from others when I felt weak and alone. I saw that two are better than one because if one falls the other can help him up (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) and I felt the Lord's presence near my broken heart through the kindness and understanding of others (Psalm 34:18).

Sharing God's word won't be the same for everyone. I know some are able to share their beliefs without the need of tragedy ripping open their hearts. For me, when my heart was torn open I found that what came pouring out was not only my sadness and grief, but my trust and faith in how much God loves us. That was too powerful for me to keep silent. As my heart heals, I may be a little less vocal, but that sharing has changed me. I pray that it changes you too.

Blessings,

Meghan Hemenway

At-Home Study

Pray: ask God to reveal Himself to you through the scriptures, to help you receive the message He has specifically for you today.

Read: each passage twice in 2-3 different translations.


{Day 1} Matthew 28:16-20

{Day 2} Matthew 5:13-16

{Day 3} 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

{Day 4} Acts 4:23-31

{Day 5} Mark 4:1-20


Observe: What is happening? What catches your attention? What is the message of this passage?What thoughts or feelings does it provoke?

Reflect: Why do these things catch your attention? Why do you feel or think certain things from reading it?

Apply: What does this say about God? What does it say about people? What does it say about God's plan for us? What does this mean for you? How can you apply what God is saying to you?

How Can I Resist Evil?

The battle is constant. I feel exposed and vulnerable in so many ways. I practice many strategies, both offensive and defensive. I am aware that evil exists and I know his tactics. I ready myself with the full Armor of God. (Eph. 6:10-18)

But often I feel like all of my efforts aren't enough. I feel weak and weary in spite of putting all the things I've learned into practice. I'm clinging to it all desperately, but the attacks are still getting in and I don't seem to be recovering quickly.

Feeling alone and isolated by the weight of it all, the thought of sharing the load with someone else is both tempting and repulsive. You know you'd find relief if someone joined you, but you'd first need to expose yourself and your stuff, making you vulnerable in a real way to judgement and rejection. This time instead of hearing the voices say "you're not enough," you hear "you're too much." Too messy, too needy, and no one has the room/time/energy/desire to join you in this.

Who does that sound like?

The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

When these moments of desperation overcome the fear provoked by the idea of inviting someone else into my mess I seek out those who also practice these strategies. Someone who is also fighting for their relationship with Jesus, saturated in God's word, humble and kind, but bold with truth. 

This person helps me identify the lies and wounds, proclaims truth, and carries the weight of my burdens with me. 

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

Matthew 18:20 KJV

As in scripture when the four friends carry the paralyzed man to the house where Jesus is and lower him through the roof to be placed at the feet of Jesus, we can borrow strength and faith from those God has placed around us. We can lend it to those around us when we find them "paralyzed". 

What is your plan? How do you resist evil? 

This analogy just came to me. I'm writing this on a computer. The program often automatically saves my work. The computer has a program that guards against viruses. I get a warning when the battery is running low. I will upload this post via an internet connection through a router and a firewall. The blog host will save it to a server and that company has protocols that include routine backup saves and likely a disaster recovery plan in the event that their home office location gets destroyed. They have a known secondary location, key employees know where it is and what to do to get them up and functioning again as quickly as possible.  

If this is how a company plans, prepares, and practices for influence and events that could move against them, how much more should we plan, prepare, and practice the strategies laid out for us by God to do the same?

Blessings,

Nanette Haskin

At-Home Study

Pray: ask God to reveal Himself to you through the scriptures, to help you receive the message He has specifically for you today.

Read: each passage twice in 2-3 different translations.


{Day 1} 1Peter 5:6-11

{Day 2} Genesis 3:1-7

{Day 3} James 4:1-10

{Day 4} Romans 6:5-14

{Day 5} Ephesians 6:10-18



Observe: What is happening? What catches your attention? What is the message of this passage?What thoughts or feelings does it provoke?

Reflect: Why do these things catch your attention? Why do you feel or think certain things from reading it?

Apply: What does this say about God? What does it say about people? What does it say about God's plan for us? What does this mean for you? How can you apply what God is saying to you?