Feeling vs. Truth: Aligning Your Spirit with God's Word

In a world driven by emotions and instant gratification, it's easy to let our feelings dictate our actions and beliefs. But what if there's a better way? What if our feelings, while important, weren't meant to be the ultimate guide for our lives?

Today, we're diving deep into the relationship between our feelings and God's truth, exploring how we can align our spirit, soul, and body with the Word of God. This journey isn't just about suppressing emotions or forcing positive thinking – it's about discovering a profound balance that can transform our lives.

The Triune Nature of Humanity

We are created as triune beings: spirit, soul, and body. This mirrors the Trinity of God and reflects His image in us. Our spirit is the part of us that connects directly with God, our soul encompasses our mind, will, and emotions, and our body is the physical vessel we inhabit.

Understanding this structure is crucial because it helps us prioritize our spiritual growth correctly. God intends for our spirit to lead, informed by His truth, with our soul and body following suit.

The Power of Sanctification

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, we read a powerful prayer: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely." But what does it mean to be sanctified? Simply put, it means to be set apart or declared holy.

Here's the beautiful truth: your spirit was sanctified the moment you accepted Christ. It's a done deal. Your soul, however, is in the process of being sanctified, and your body is learning to align with this new reality.

This sanctification isn't achieved through our own efforts or feelings. John 17:17 reveals the key: "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." It's God's Word that sets us apart and declares us holy.

Feelings: Friend or Foe?

God created our emotions, and they serve a purpose. The problem arises when we allow our feelings to be the primary driver of our lives, rather than God's truth.

Think of it this way: our brain has a reticular activating system (RAS) that helps us prioritize information. When we focus on something, our RAS highlights similar things in our environment. In the same way, we can train our emotions to align with God's truth, rather than letting them run wild based on circumstances or fleeting thoughts.

The key is not to suppress our feelings but to teach them to respond to truth. Just as a child looks to their parent to know how to react when they fall, we should look to God's Word to inform our emotional responses.

Truth as the Foundation

Hebrews 10:10 declares, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." This truth liberates us from the need to constantly perform or earn our holiness. We are set apart by Christ's work, not our own.

When we're not "feeling" holy or worthy, we can stand on this truth. We can tell our soul – our mind, will, and emotions – to align with what God says about us, not what our fleeting feelings suggest.

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Jesus said in John 4:24, "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." This reinforces the idea that our spiritual connection with God should be rooted in truth, not just emotion.

Romans 8:8-9 further emphasizes this: "Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you."

Practical Application: Speaking Truth to Your Soul

Even King David understood the need to speak truth to his emotions. In Psalms, he asks, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

This isn't mere positive thinking or self-help. It's aligning our whole being with God's truth. Here are some practical steps:

1. Immerse yourself in God's Word daily.
2. Speak God's truths out loud, especially when your feelings contradict them.
3. Remind yourself of your identity in Christ, regardless of how you feel.
4. Practice gratitude, focusing on God's faithfulness rather than your circumstances.
5. Share these truths with others, reinforcing them in your own heart.

The Beautiful Harmony

When we allow God's truth to govern our feelings, something beautiful happens. Our emotions aren't suppressed; they're enhanced. They begin to reflect the joy, peace, and love that come from a deep connection with our Creator.

Imagine a life where your feelings confirm God's truth rather than contradict it. Where anxiety is replaced by peace, fear by faith, and insecurity by confidence in Christ's love for you.

This doesn't mean we'll never struggle or face difficult emotions. But it does mean we have a solid foundation to return to, a truth that stands firm when our feelings fluctuate.

A Call to Alignment

Today, let's make a conscious decision to align our spirit, soul, and body with God's truth. Let's invite the Holy Spirit to speak louder than our emotions, to guide us into all truth as Jesus promised.

Remember, you are not defined by your feelings. You are defined by what God says about you. You are loved, chosen, and set apart for His purposes. Let that truth sink deep into your soul and watch as it transforms not just how you feel, but how you live.

In a world that's constantly shifting, let's anchor ourselves to the unchanging truth of God's Word. As we do, we'll find that our emotions become a beautiful expression of that truth, rather than a tumultuous sea tossing us to and fro.

May we all grow in discerning between our feelings and God's truth, allowing His Word to sanctify us entirely – spirit, soul, and body. In this alignment, we'll discover the fullness of life that Jesus promised, a life overflowing with His love, joy, and peace.