Almost everyone is searching for direction or guidance, especially for the New Year. Many, if not most of the people who seek counsel at our ministry are seeking guidance at some level. For this topic, I want to focus upon the differences between God’s guidance received through His Spirit versus guidance received through feelings and/or emotions. Emotional-based guidance is usually a reliable indicator of God’s leading.
While feelings and emotions play an integral part in the life of a believer in experiencing love, joy, peace etc, they were never designed by God to be a sole indicator of guidance. Emotions are designed by God to express God’s life in and through the life of the believer.
To properly understand emotional-based guidance, it is necessary to define the use of emotions. A definition of emotions that I use is “energy motion”. We are created by God to use our energy in motion by registering inwardly life experiences. All of life’s experiences are registered this way and are not meant to be used as a primary means of guidance. Most females struggle with relying on emotional guidance; they believe feelings and emotions are the precise measure of guidance because of being tied to relationships. While men can fall prey in this area also, they are not as prone to emotional-based guidance as women.
On the other hand, spiritual guidance while involving emotions is centered around and focused upon Truth. Psalms 51:6 states “Behold Thou desires truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom” Notice the emphasis in this verse. The emphasis is upon Truth not emotions. Truth is brought into the life of the believer by the inner workings of the Spirit of God acting in accordance to God’s will. Truth will be brought to the life of the believer by the flow of God’s Spirit illuminating the mind, energizing the will for immediate actions while lastly being felt in the emotional core of a believer’s life. The believer is now feeling energized in a specific direction from God such that no apprehension exists and God’s will is accomplished.
Guidance by emotions usually leads to regret, anger, justifications for wrong-doing or embarrassment. God rarely guides His children by emotions but by Truth. Psalms 91:4 states, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Notice the emphasis of Truth in this verse. Truth is the Believer’s shield and buckler. As God’s Spirit leads by means of Truth, that Truth becomes God’s protection for His children. Emotions or feelings can never accomplish this task.
Additionally, Truth provides for the believer freedom or a release from struggles. Emotions, at best, only give a temporary release from struggles and in the end the struggles return with a vengeance. John 8:32 states, “And ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.” John 16:13 states, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth is come He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speaks and He will show you things to come.”
God’s people are changed or sanctified by Truth never emotions. John 17:17 states, “Sanctify them through tThy truth Thy Word is Truth.” This verse gives a different emphasis of Truth. Change or guidance comes through the Truth; God’s Word contains the Truth. It is the Truth every believer needs for proper guidance.
Friends, begin today to trust God’s Truth instead of emotions for 2018. In so doing, you can become more like Christ and live out your God-given destiny by experiencing a New Year as never before.
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