I'm reading this book called
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene Peterson. There is a paragraph I read recently that I'd like to share. It's very simplistic really, but I just love how he puts it in this book. He is speaking of worship, and why Christians do it, or don't do it.
"I have put great emphasis on the fact that Christians worship because they want to, not because they are forced to. But I have never said that we worship because we
feel like it. Feelings are great liars. If Christians worshiped only when they
felt like it, there would be precious little worship.
Feelings are unreliable in matters of faith.........We live in what one writer has called the "age of sensation." We think that if we don't
feel something there can be no authenticity in doing it. But the wisdom of God says something different: that we can
act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we can
feel ourselves into a new way of acting. Worship is an
act that develops feelings for God, not a
feeling for God that is expressed in the act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship with God is nurtured."
I know for myself, especially lately, I have not
felt like going to church, but the act of doing it, makes me want to do it more. It makes me want more of God. Sometimes, I don't
feel like getting my Bible out first thing in the morning to read and journal, but when I do, I am so glad. Sometimes I just can't stop reading. It makes me want more. If I were to listen to my feelings, over what I know is better than feelings, I'd miss so much. So for me, this authors words are true.
I was also thinking of how this concept of acts over feelings can apply to other areas of my life. For instance, I am part of a weightloss/healthy lifestyle accountability blog where a few ladies and I daily try to encourage each other to make healthy choices with our food and with exercise. Regularly my response to myself regarding walking on my treadmill or doing my exercise dvd is, "I just don't
feel like it right now. I'll do it later." (in hopes of feeling like it then) Along with a million other "feelings" based excuses. This week I propose to make a better effort to
"act myself into a new way of feeling" toward exercise based on the faith that it is best for me, rather than based on what I
feel at any given moment, which is NEVER, "Oh, this is going to be fun, because I know how good this is going to be for me!", but rather, "Ugh! I just can't do this right now, I don't FEEL like it." And food choices.."I don't feel like eating salad or veggies today. I'll eat this pizza and tomorrow maybe I'll "feel" like eating healthier" See what I mean?
So, I challenge you all my friends, if you have areas of your life that need to be changed, whatever they may be, whether health related, or addictions, or attitudes, or time with God, or service to God's people, or money, or responsibilities, or whatever it is, I challenge you to "ACT yourself into a NEW way of FEELING", toward that thing. As God's word proclaims,
With men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible. Matthew 19:26