I think we’ve all heard the expression, “If it feels good, do it.” Recently, I read a comment from an art instructor, whose newsletter I receive, advising artists not to get lost in theory and analysis, but just to go with “your gut feeling”: if something feels right, then that’s all the justification that we need to do it. That advice may work well for a painting, but it can have bad consequences in life. I know that my feelings tell me lies daily! We can get manipulated by our moods.
God wants our lives to be characterized by faith. The writer to the Hebrews spoke of Moses, a man of faith.
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:24-27 NKJV)
I am sure that Moses didn’t always feel like doing the right thing! We need his kind of faith that stands strong against our feelings.
People who achieve success do things that others are not willing to do, even if they do not feel like doing them. Great athletes spend countless days in training, and professional musicians many hours practicing. If we are to escape the trap of being ruled by our emotions, we will spend more time with God in prayer and in His Word. Moses was not perfect, but he was persistent in his faith and actions, and he succeeded only because he saw the invisible God and listened to His voice. Faith and determination to succeed go hand in hand as we plow through every seemingly hopeless situation, as we pick ourselves up when we are down, and as we are faithful when pressured to surrender.
Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Lord, and not on today’s problems that weigh us down. His power is ever present to keep us going, and all that we need to do is to ask Him for it.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the power that only You can provide to keep us going, even when we don’t feel like it. We are so grateful that we can see You in faith, and so endure. Amen.
Copyright © 2023, by Shirley Moulton <shirley_moulton@yahoo.ca>, first published on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional presbycan.ca
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Used with the permission of PresbyCan and author.
