Obedience Over Understanding

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

As a follower of Jesus, he calls me to a life of obedience—even if it appears foolish to other people, even if it doesn’t make sense financially, and even if I don’t understand it and scared to death.

Luke 5:4-5 says, “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets’” (NIV).

Jesus had stepped into Simon Peter’s boat. But he didn’t stop there. He also started giving this professional fisherman instructions on how to fish!

Notice Peter’s reaction. He didn’t argue with Jesus. He didn’t say, “Excuse me, Lord. You’re a carpenter. I’m a fisherman. And those fish aren’t biting! Who are you to tell me how to do my job?”

And he didn’t hesitate. When Jesus told him to launch the boat, he didn’t say, “Why don’t we think about this for a minute? Let’s form a committee and vote on it” or “We’re pretty dirty and tired here, Lord. How about we try again this afternoon?”

What did Peter do? He responded to Jesus with unquestioning obedience.

God has tells me to do things: Disobedience always hurts me because I miss out on God’s blessing in my life.

But when I say, “God, I don’t understand it all, but I choose to obey you no matter what,” I'll experience a life of purpose and peace. His instructions don’t have to make sense to me; I just need to follow them—trusting him in faith.

The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

I can trust God because he always has my best interest in mind, even if I can’t see it right away.

In summary:

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to fully trust in God, not relying on my own limited understanding, but submitting to Him in every area of life. This kind of trust often requires obedience even when it doesn’t make sense—just like Peter in Luke 5, who, despite exhaustion and doubt, obeyed Jesus’ unexpected instruction to fish again and witnessed a miracle. God calls me to follow Him with faith, not logic, because His ways are higher than mine. When I choose obedience over understanding, I open myself to His guidance, peace, and blessing—trusting that He always has my best in mind.

Bottom Line:

Even when it doesn’t make sense, obedience to God leads to blessing—trust Him fully, surrender my understanding, and follow His lead.

When Effort Isn’t Enough: Trusting Jesus for the Breakthrough

“When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” Luke 5:4-5 (NIV)

In Luke 5, we read about Simon Peter admitting his failure to Jesus. He was a professional fisherman—and a good one. It was how he made his living. So imagine how hard it must have been for Peter to confess to Jesus, “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (Luke 5:5 NIV).

But sometimes, even the pros fish all night and catch nothing.

Sometimes I feel that way. Sometimes my best isn’t good enough, and sometimes I face situations out of my control. I can’t control the economy. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control a lot of things that affect my life.

So what should I do when I keep trying hard in my work but just don’t have much to show for it?

First, I need to get Jesus in my boat. In other words, let him be the center of my career or whatever I do each day to provide, care, or serve. Then, once I've asked Jesus to come into my boat, I need to admit my way isn’t working and let him take over. The Bible has a name for “admitting your way isn’t working.” It’s called confession, and it can be tough.

Why is it so hard for me to admit my way isn’t working? 

Here are a few reasons:

Pride. I don’t want anybody to think I can’t handle it. Instead, I try to look like I'm in charge and like I've got it all together. I want to be able to handle everything by myself, even if it means working 12 hours a day.

Stubbornness. I'm unwilling to change the way I do things. The greatest enemy of tomorrow’s success is yesterday’s success?

Fear. I can’t admit I've fished all night and caught nothing. I'm afraid people will think less of me. I'm afraid to let Jesus into my boat because he might steer it in a direction I don’t want to go.

It’s time to confess that my way isn’t working. Let go of my pride, stubbornness, and fear. See how Jesus can take my boat and fill my nets to overflowing.

In summary:

In Luke 5:4-5, Simon Peter, a skilled fisherman, humbly admits his failure after a long, unproductive night of fishing—but still obeys Jesus' instruction to try again. This story illustrates how, despite our best efforts and expertise, I sometimes come up empty due to circumstances beyond my control. When that happens, the key is to invite Jesus into the center of my work and life, confess that my way isn't working, and let Him lead. Confession requires letting go of pride, stubbornness, and fear—barriers that keep me from trusting God fully. Only then can He guide me to abundance beyond my efforts.

Bottom Line:

When my own efforts fall short, learn to invite Jesus into the center of life, surrender control, and trust His direction—He can do more with my obedience than I can with my expertise.

Short-Term Thinking, Long-Term Loss

“His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, ‘He said this because we have no bread.’ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’” Mark 8:16-17 (NCV)

When I focus on the wrong things, I miss what God is doing in my life.

When my attention is only on the here and now, I miss God’s long-term plan. When I just think about comfort, I miss out on character. When I concentrate on happiness, I forget holiness. When I just want to enjoy the moment, I may not prepare for eternity.

When my thinking is short-term, I miss seeing the spiritual work God is doing all around me.

This is what happened to the disciples in Mark 8. The Bible says, “Then Jesus left the Pharisees and went in the boat to the other side of the lake. His followers had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat; they had forgotten to bring more. Jesus warned them, ‘Be careful! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod’” (Mark 8:13-15 NCV).

But the disciples missed the point: “His followers discussed the meaning of this, saying, ‘He said this because we have no bread.’ Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, ‘Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed?’” (Mark 8:16-17 NCV).

Using yeast as a metaphor, Jesus was trying to teach his disciples a lesson about pride. When you put yeast in dough, the yeast puffs up the dough. It only takes a small amount for this to happen.

Pride in people is similar. Just a little pride can puff me up and quickly take over my life, getting me in all kinds of trouble. But the disciples didn’t understand the deeper meaning—they thought he was talking about lunch!

While Jesus was talking about the need for maturity, his disciples were talking about their next meal. That’s short-term thinking.

Whenever I think short-term, I can’t see the larger picture of what God is doing in my life. So ask God today to give me a glimpse into eternity and to help me experience the hope that comes from seeing his long-term plan.

In summary:

When I focus only on immediate needs or concerns, like the disciples worrying about having no bread, I can easily miss the deeper spiritual lessons God is trying to teach me. In Mark 8, Jesus uses the metaphor of yeast to warn about the destructive nature of pride, but his followers misunderstand, showing how short-term thinking blinds us to God’s greater plan. Like them, when I prioritize comfort, happiness, or the moment, I risk losing sight of character development, holiness, and eternal purpose. To truly grow, I must ask God to shift my perspective from temporary concerns to his long-term, eternal work in my life.

Bottom line:

Don’t allow short-term thinking blind me to God’s deeper work—I need to shift my focus from the temporary to the eternal so I can grow in faith and maturity.

Faith Over Fear: Facing Giants with God's Power

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands . . . and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)

If I want to be a person of great faith, with a great dream and a great life’s work, do the very things that David did to defeat the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt.

Remember how God has helped me in the past.
David said in 1 Samuel 17:37, “The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (NLT).

When I remember the ways that God has helped me in the past, it gives me confidence for the future.

Use the tools that God has given me now.
David used the tools that God provided that utilized his strengths: “Then Saul gave David his own armor . . . ‘I can’t go in these,’ he protested to Saul. ‘I’m not used to them.’ So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:38-40 NLT).

Don’t wait for something I don’t have—money, education, or connections. Use the tools God has already given me to face my giants with confidence.

Ignore the dream busters.
Later in life, when others were speaking against him, David had to encourage himself in the Lord: “David was seriously worried, for in their bitter grief for their children, his men began talking of killing him. But David took strength from the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6 TLB).

When I encourage myself in the Lord, it’s not just a positive mental attitude. There is a bedrock trust in God’s grace, provision, security, and power.

Expect God to help me for his glory.
David stormed the battlefield, shouting, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty. . . . This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands” (1 Samuel 17:45-46 NIV).

Make this decision, “God, I’m not the smartest guy, the best educated, or the most talented. But I’m going to trust you. And I will do anything, anytime, anywhere in faith, even when it doesn’t make sense to me.” And then let the adventure in life begin!

God will use anybody who will trust him and expect to be used by him—not because of who I am but because it brings him glory.

In summary:

To become a person of great faith and purpose like David, I must face the giants of delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt by remembering how God has helped me in the past, using the tools and strengths He’s already given me, ignoring those who try to crush my dreams, and stepping out in faith expecting God to act for His glory—not because of my ability, but because of His power.

Bottom Line:

Trust God fully, use what He’s already given me, and face life’s giants with bold faith—because the battle belongs to the Lord and brings glory to Him.

Slaying the Giants Within

“Everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 1 Samuel 17:47 (NLT)

Before David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel, he had to fight four other giants. But they weren’t physical giants; they were giants in his mind.

I'm far more likely to face those kinds of giants than an actual Goliath, but they can be just as big and intimidating. They can keep me from becoming who God wants me to be and fulfilling the dream that God has put in my heart. 

The first giant in facing my dream is delay. No dream is fulfilled instantly. It may be years before I see the fulfillment of my life dream. There is always a waiting period.

In David’s case, his dad held him back from the dream. After Samuel anointed David as king, Jesse told David to get back to tending the sheep!

When God’s plan contradicts somebody else’s plan, there’s going to be a delay, and people may try to hold me back. But God is faithful, and he will complete his work in his timing.

The second giant I may face is discouragement. Goliath created a climate of fear in Israel, and everybody was convinced they were going to lose the battle.

What people are I listening who say it can’t be done? Who’s putting down my dream, saying it won’t ever happen?

Sometimes I just need a fresh voice—a kid from the village with fresh eyes who says, “This giant is nothing. We can take him down.”

The third giant standing in my way is disapproval. In David’s case, his own brother questioned his motives and disapproved of him going after Goliath.

When God gives me a dream that scares other people and I go for it anyway, I will be misjudged, maligned, and misunderstood. That’s when I have to decide what matters most: the approval of others or God’s approval.

The fourth giant I may have to face is doubt. King Saul was an expert on war, and he told David he was crazy for thinking a boy could fight a warrior like Goliath.

Maybe the expert is saying I can’t do it, either. That’s enough to make me start doubting myself.

Besides, the experts are often wrong. Don’t let doubt hold me back from God’s dream for my life.

In summary:

Before David ever faced Goliath, he had to overcome four invisible giants—delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt—that threatened to stop him from fulfilling God’s dream for his life. Like David, I often face these internal giants that arise from people’s opinions, setbacks, or even my own insecurities. Delay may come from being held back by others, discouragement from fear-driven voices, disapproval from those close to me, and doubt from so-called experts. But as David declared in 1 Samuel 17:47, the battle belongs to the Lord, and with faith in Him, I can overcome these giants and walk boldly toward the purpose God has placed in my heart.

Bottom Line:

Before I can defeat the external giants in life, I must first overcome the internal ones—delay, discouragement, disapproval, and doubt—by trusting that the battle belongs to God.

Guided by Trust, The Answer to the Stress of Indecision

“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 (NIV)

When I'm afraid of making the wrong decision, it creates stress in my life.

But God has an antidote to indecision. Psalm 23:3 says, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (NIV). The way to handle the stress of decision-making—whether it’s a financial decision, relational decision, or vocational decision—is to let God guide me.

“But I’ve tried this!” I asked God to guide me, but then I became more confused than ever before. I still couldn’t figure it out, and I wondered why knowing God’s will is so difficult.

Is God playing games with me? Of course not! God wants to guide me. He wants me to know his will more than I want to know. But sometimes I look for the wrong thing when I'm trying to find God’s will. We all do this.

Some of us look for a feeling. Some want a formula or recipe to follow. Others treat it like magic—waiting for God to give them a big, fantastic sign.

These ways only lead to frustration and can cause me to miss God’s will.

God doesn’t want me confused, and he doesn’t want me stressed over making a decision. He wants me to ask him for guidance before I make a decision and then trust him and his goodness once the decision is made.

When I do, he sets me free from second-guessing myself.

James 1:6-8 says, “When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do” (NLT).

Here’s the good news: Even if the future looks uncertain, I don’t have to feel unsettled or stressed or afraid. God is stable, and I can trust his guidance. 

When I unequivocally trust God in uncertain times—in all times—he will give me everything I need to make wise decisions.

God will be there guiding me every step of the way. This is his promise, and I can believe it to be true: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

In summary:

When faced with difficult decisions, I don't have to be overwhelmed by fear or stress—God promises to guide me along the right paths, as Psalm 23:3 assures. Often, I seek guidance through feelings, formulas, or signs, but God’s will isn’t found in confusion or gimmicks; it’s discovered through faith and trust. He desires to lead me more than I desire to be led, and when I ask in faith and commit to trusting Him fully, He frees me from doubt and second-guessing. Even in uncertain times, God's guidance is steady and reliable—He will show me the right way when I rely on Him completely.

Bottom Line:

When I trust God fully, He will guide me on the right path and give me peace in every decision.

The Power of Thanking God in Advance

"The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!'" 2 Chronicles 20:21 (NLT)

In 2 Chronicles 20:21, King Jehoshaphat had a very unusual way of organizing an army: "The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the LORD and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: 'Give thanks to the LORD; his faithful love endures forever!'" (NLT).

Jehoshaphat’s battle plan was to put a choir before the infantry. Picture this: On one side, there are three enemy armies amassed to do battle against Israel. Then there’s the valley where they’re going to battle. Then there are the lowly Israelites. Jehoshaphat essentially says, “We’re going to take those of you who sing and make a choir out of you, putting you in front of the army as you march into battle.”

There’s a very important truth here: The Israelites were thanking God in advance for the victory. Praise and thanksgiving are verbalized faith. If I thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If I thank God before it happens, that’s faith.

Notice the effect of praise in verses 22 and 23: “When they began to sing, the LORD threw the invading armies into a panic. The Ammonites and the Moabites attacked the Edomite army and completely destroyed it, and then they turned on each other in savage fighting" (GNT). God confused the enemy, and they turned on each other and destroyed themselves while the Israelites looked on. There is power in expectation.

That insurmountable problem in my life—the one with the odds may be stacked against me? When i thank God after he’s solved everything, that’s called gratitude. But when I thank him before it’s all settled—right in the middle of the problem—that’s faith.

When I allow God to solve my problems, it becomes a testimony to unbelievers. The world takes notice when his followers live by faith. And God loves to demonstrate his power in those who expect him to work in their lives.

So when facing a difficult circumstance—with money, relationships, or career and feel like the odds are against me or if I think my problem is overwhelming? What do I do? I need to turn to God, who defends me.

In summary:

I read In 2 Chronicles 20:21, how King Jehoshaphat demonstrated bold faith by sending singers to lead his army into battle, praising God in advance for the victory. This act of worship wasn’t just symbolic—it was a declaration of trust in God’s power before the outcome was visible. As the people sang, God caused their enemies to turn on each other, proving that faith-filled praise can unlock divine intervention. The lesson is clear: thanking God after a breakthrough shows gratitude, but praising Him before the breakthrough shows faith. When we trust God in the face of overwhelming odds, He not only fights for me but also uses my faith as a testimony to others.

Bottom line:

Praising God before the victory is an act of faith that invites His power to turn the battle in my favor.

Transformed Through Trials

“If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” 1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

Before photography went digital, you took a picture, and the first thing you’d get was a negative. Then you’d develop the negative into a positive by going into a darkroom and shining a light through it onto photographic paper. This turned the negative into a positive, full-color photograph.

I'm learning that this is what God wants to do with the injustices in our lives. We have all experienced injustice. People have mistreated us. They’ve passed over us. They’ve taken advantage of us. God wants to take all the negatives, shine the light of Jesus through them, and turn them into positives—a full-color picture of the life I was made to live.

The Bible says, “If you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you” (1 Peter 4:19 NLT). The most important thing I can remember when I’ve been treated unfairly is that Jesus is on my side. 

Throughout Scripture, God shows special care for people who are treated unfairly. He is a God of justice. He hears my cry, sees my pain, and knows my hurt. I didn’t get what I thought you deserved. But God has a plan for my pain.

When I shine the light of God’s love through my circumstances, he can turn my pain into a beautiful picture. He develops my character through it. He makes me stronger. Most importantly, he uses my pain.

I’ll never get an explanation for much of the pain I'll endure in this life. When I get to heaven, I may understand more about why bad things happened to me. But God does not owe me an explanation for it.

The good news is that I don’t need an explanation. I just need to know that God loves me. He has a plan for me. God will settle the score with whoever hurt me.

God never wastes a hurt. Welcome the light of the gospel into it, and God will use my hurt—the very real injustice that has happened to me—to create a beautiful picture through my life.

In summary:

Just as a photographic negative is transformed into a beautiful image by light, God can shine His light through the injustices and hurts in my life to create something good and meaningful. When I suffer in a way that honors Him, Scripture encourages me to keep doing what is right and trust in His unfailing love and justice (1 Peter 4:19). Though I may never get an explanation for the pain I endure, I can rest in the truth that God sees, hears, and cares deeply. He uses my suffering to strengthen my character, grow my faith, and ultimately turn my pain into purpose—never wasting a hurt when I surrender it to Him.

When I trust God with my pain, He will use it to shape my character, reveal His love, and create something meaningful from my suffering.

Loving Like Jesus, A Love That Never Quits

“Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 (GW)

The same love God offers to me, he wants me to offer to everyone else. It’s not an option or a suggestion. It’s a command: “Now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT).

As a follower of Christ, I must love everybody—whether I like them or not—in the same way that Christ loves me. That means I am to accept them completely, love them unconditionally, forgive them totally, and consider them extremely valuable.

Loving others in this way will transform my relationships!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7, “Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up” (GW).

This is how God loves me. God never stops being patient with me. God never stops believing in me. God never stops hoping for the best in my life. God never gives up on me. That’s what God expects me to do with everybody else.

“Love never stops being patient.” That means love extends grace. I need to offer grace to others.

“Love . . . never stops believing.” That means love expresses faith. The people in my life should know that, even if things are strained between us, I will never stop believing in them.

“Love . . . never stops hoping.” That means love expects the best. Are I expecting the best in my marriage, with my daughter, grandsons, or with my coworkers? Or have I settled for less than the best? Have I become pessimistic or cynical when it comes to my relationships?

“Love . . . never gives up.” That means love endures the worst. It means I can look at the other person and say, “You can throw everything at me, but I’m going to keep loving you, no matter what.”

If I want to start loving the people God has placed in my life even better, I can say “Dear God, I admit that I’ve sometimes made a mess in my relationships. They’re complicated and broken, and I’ve often settled for less than the best. They need a transformation! So please begin by changing me.

“Help me to accept others, just as you’ve accepted me. Help me to love others unconditionally, just as you have loved me. Help me to forgive others totally, just as you’ve forgiven me. And help me to value others as much as you value me. Help me to extend grace to and express faith in the people around me. Help me to expect the best in others, and when the worst happens, help me to endure it and to keep on loving them. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

In summary:

God calls me to love others with the same relentless, grace-filled love He shows me—patient, faithful, hopeful, and enduring. According to 1 Corinthians 13:7, true love never gives up, never loses faith, never stops hoping, and never quits—and this is exactly how God loves me. As a follower of Christ, I'm commanded to extend that same love to everyone, whether I like them or not: accepting completely, loving unconditionally, forgiving totally, and valuing deeply. When I embrace this kind of love, it transforms my relationships, beginning with a prayer for God to change my own heart so I can love others as He loves me.

When I let God transform my heart, I can extend grace, endure in love, and build relationships that reflect His unconditional love.

Loved and Worthy: Living from God's View Of Me

“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end.” Isaiah 54:10 (GNT)

If I don’t feel loved by God, it’s going to be much more difficult for me to offer love to someone else. But when I understand and remember how deeply God loves me, it becomes more natural—and even easy—to love others.

This is why I need to remind myself every day what God thinks about me—not what the world thinks or what I think about myself. “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe” (Proverbs 29:25 GNT).

Four truths God wants me to remember about who I am. These will help me to better feel his love and share it with others. 

I'm completely accepted.
I spend a lot of my life trying to earn acceptance from parents, peers, those I respect, those I envy, and even total strangers. But I need to realize that God has already settled this issue of acceptance: “Jesus . . . made us acceptable to God” (Titus 3:7 CEV). What Jesus did on the cross made me completely acceptable to God—no matter what I've done or will do.

I'm unconditionally loved.
God doesn’t say, “I love you if . . .” or “ I love you because . . .” He says, “I love you—period!” I can’t make God stop loving me, because his love is not based on what I do but on who he is. Isaiah 54:10 says, “The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end” (GNT).

I'm totally forgiven.
Because Jesus died on the cross and gave his life as a payment for my sins, I am totally forgiven when I accepted God’s gift of forgiveness. Romans 8:1 says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). God doesn’t rehearse my sins. He releases them.

I'm considered to be extremely valuable.
There are two things that determine the value of something: who it belongs to and what someone is willing to pay for it.

The truth is, I'm a child of God—and “you have been bought and paid for by Christ” (1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB). God says I belong to him, and Jesus paid for me with his life. That’s how valuable I am! 

When I remember that I'm accepted, loved, forgiven, and valuable to the Creator of the universe, I'll be better equipped to show that love to others and build deeper relationships. I must see value in myself to add value to myself and to others.

In summary:

Isaiah 54:10 reminds me that God's love is unwavering, even when everything else falls apart. When I truly grasp how deeply God loves me—that I’m completely accepted, unconditionally loved, totally forgiven, and extremely valuable—it transforms how I see myself and how I relate to others. God’s view of me matters more than the opinions of others or even my own negative self-talk. As I anchor my identity in His truth and remember what Jesus has done for me, I can love others more freely and genuinely. Feeling secure in God’s love empowers me to offer that same love and value to those around me. I must see value in myself to add value to myself and to others.

Knowing I'm accepted, loved, forgiven, and valued by God empowers me to love others with confidence and grace.

Be Led by Truth, Not by Feelings

“From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God’s will and not by human desires.” 1 Peter 4:2 (GNT)

What are human desires? They’re my emotions and my affections. Once I become a Christ-follower, my life should be controlled by God’s will, not by how I feel.

When I'm angry or upset or frustrated—whatever I'm feeling—I need to consider these three questions:

“What’s the real reason I’m feeling this?” Maybe the answer is fear or worry. Maybe it goes back to something parents said years ago. Or maybe someone hurt me last week, and today they’re the target of all my pent-up anger.

“Is it true?” Is what I'm feeling at that moment true? There’s a point in the Bible where Elijah got so discouraged that he went to God and complained, “God, I’m the only one in the entire nation of Israel left serving you.” And God challenged him, essentially saying, “Are you kidding me? I’ve got all these people who are still serving me! You’re acting like you’re the only one trying to do the right thing in the whole world! No. That’s not true.”

“Is what I’m feeling helping me or hurting me?” Will I get what you want by continuing to feel this way? A lot of feelings I have seem natural, but they’re actually self-defeating.

If I go to a restaurant, the service is extremely slow. I wait a long time to be served, and then a couple walks in 15 minutes after you and gets their meals before you do. I become increasingly irritated until I feel something welling up inside.

When something like this happens, consider each question: What’s the real reason I'm feeling that way? I'm hungry! Is it true? Yes. I'm frustrated because the service is slow. Is what I'm feeling helping or hurting? Getting angry with the server never works. When somebody tells me all the things I'm doing wrong, does it make me want to change? No! All it does is make me defensive.

When I ask yourself these three questions, I'll get a better grip on why I feel the way I do and what I need to do to help the situation.

That’s called managing your emotions.

In summary:

1 Peter 4:2 reminds me that once I follow Christ, my life should be guided by God's will, not by my human desires— emotions and affections. Managing my emotions means not being controlled by how I feel in the moment, but by seeking truth and alignment with God’s purpose. When emotions rise, I can pause and ask three key questions: What’s the real reason I’m feeling this? Is it true? Is this feeling helping or hurting me? These questions help me uncover deeper causes, challenge distorted thinking, and evaluate whether my emotions are leading me toward or away from God's will. This intentional process leads to greater emotional self-awareness and Christlike self-control.

I need to live by God’s will, not by my emotions, by pausing to reflect on the truth behind my feelings.

The Peace of a Surrendered Heart

“Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” Job 11:13-18 (CEV)

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear” (NCV).

So how can I learn to live in God’s love so that you can live free of fear?

Every day, I need to surrender my heart to God.

When I wake up each morning, before my feet hit the floor, I need to say, “God, before I even start this day, I surrender my emotions to you. I want you to be Lord of my feelings. I want you to control my mind and my emotions. I surrender my heart to you. I want you to fill me with your love.”

Job 11:13-18 says, “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry” (CEV).

I find three commands and eight promises in that verse. God says if I do this, then he’ll do that. In fact, so many of God’s promises come with a premise.

First, he gives me the commands: Surrender my heart to God every day. Turn to him in prayer. And give up my sins—confess my sins to God.

Then come the eight benefits: I won’t be ashamed, I’ll be confident, I’ll be fearless, my troubles will be like water under the bridge, the dark night I'm going through is going to be brighter than noon, Ill be able to sleep well because I am safe and secure, I will be filled with hope, and I’ll be emptied of worry.

Wow! These are great benefits to experience. I need to consider writing that Scripture on an index card and put it somewhere where I’ll see it throughout the week. Let it remind me to do those three things—surrender my heart to God, turn to him in prayer, and confess my sins—so that God’s peace will fill my life.

Do this and watch and see how God helps me “rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.”

In summary:

Job 11:13–18 reminds us that when I daily surrender my heart to God, turn to Him in prayer, and confess my sins—even the hidden ones—I open the door to a life free of fear, shame, and worry. This passage outlines three simple but powerful commands that lead to eight incredible promises: confidence, fearlessness, peace, hope, rest, and more. By starting each day giving God control of my heart and emotions, I'm inviting His perfect love to fill me and drive out fear, as 1 John 4:18 teaches. Living this way brings deep spiritual security and transforms even my darkest moments into light.

Hope That Restores Vision

“He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ . . . Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone.” 1 Peter 1:19, 21 (TLB)

My vision—how I see the world, how I see God, and how I see myself—determines my stress level, my success, my stability, and my spiritual strength. It’s all about vision.

The Bible tells the story of how Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus, restoring his vision. From that story, I  learn the process by which God can transform my life and give me my vision back. 

The first step to getting my vision back and living a transformed life is to believe that Jesus can change my situation. 

I need hope in order to change. Hope means believing that Jesus can do what I can’t do on my own—and what no one else can do for me. It’s trusting that what feels impossible isn’t too big for God.

Luke 18:35-38 says, “As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (NLT).

I wouldn’t stand up in a huge crowd of people and start yelling—drawing attention to myself—unless I believed it was the only way to get what I needed.

Bartimaeus’ cry wasn’t a cry of desperation. It was a cry of hope. Bartimaeus’ answer was just a few feet away, and he wasn’t going to miss it. He moved because he had hope.

The reason why so many people have lost hope today is because they’re looking for it in all the wrong places. Some people choose to put their hope in the government, until it lets them down. Others put their hope in their job, until they lose it. Some put their hope in other people, and they will inevitably be disappointed because no one is perfect,

There is only one source of hope that won’t disappoint me or let me down. There is only one hope that I cannot lose. That hope is in God.

“He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ . . . Because of this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone” (1 Peter 1:19-21 TLB).

There are lots of ways to lose my spiritual vision. But the key to getting it back is to believe that Jesus Christ can change my situation and bring about transformation. It doesn’t have to stay this way!

In summary:

My vision—how I see God, myself, and the world—shapes every part of my life, including my peace, purpose, and spiritual strength. The story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out to Jesus from the crowd, reminds us that transformation begins with hope—believing Jesus can change what we can’t. Too often, people put their hope in things that disappoint: jobs, people, or systems. But lasting hope is found only in God, who proved His love and power by raising Jesus from the dead. As 1 Peter 1:19, 21 says, because of Christ’s sacrifice, I can put my full trust in God. When I believe that Jesus can restore what I’ve lost, including my vision, I open the door to a renewed life and lasting change.

Winning the Battle in My Mind

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

The reason why most people are ineffective in life is that they’ve never learned how to fight the battle in their mind.

If I want to learn to manage my mind, I have to be free from destructive thoughts. That's not easy. God's Word says I have three enemies working against me to keep me from making lasting changes in life.

The first enemy is my old nature.
Paul says in Romans 7:23, “There is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (NLT).

I find myself doing things I don’t really want to do. That’s the battle in my mind between my old, sinful nature and my good intentions.

The second enemy is Satan.
Satan cannot force me to do anything, but he can make suggestions, and those suggestions are incredibly powerful. He can use other people, the media, or even just suggest negative thoughts directly into my mind.

The third enemy is the world’s value system.
Does anything in our society encourage self-discipline? Not much. Advertisements tell us, “You deserve a break today” and “Have it your way.”

The Bible says in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (NIV).

With enemies like that, no wonder we struggle with temptation, discouragement, despair, and failure!

So how do I fight and win this battle? Look at what 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says: “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV).

I have a choice when it comes to what I think about—and my mind has to listen to me! Perhaps adopt this verse as a life motto: “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what” (Psalm 119:112 CEV).

In summary:

Psalm 119:112, “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what”, declares a firm commitment to follow God's ways, and this kind of resolve is essential because the greatest battles I face often happen in my mind. To live effectively and experience lasting change, I must overcome three powerful enemies: my old sinful nature, which constantly pulls me back into bad habits; Satan, who fills my mind with tempting and destructive suggestions; and the world’s value system, which promotes self-indulgence and discourages self-discipline. Winning this mental and spiritual battle requires intentionally choosing what I think about and using the spiritual weapons God gives me—truth, prayer, and obedience—to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. True transformation begins with deciding, like the psalmist, to obey God's Word no matter what.

My Emotions Serve a Purpose

“The most important commandment is this . . . ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)

Jesus says in Mark 12:29-30, “The most important commandment is this . . . ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (NLT).

Do you hear the emotion in the words of Jesus? He’s saying he doesn’t want me to just kind of love him. He wants me to love him passionately—with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. God wants more than my head knowledge. He wants an emotional relationship with me.

Here are some things to understand emotions. 

First, God has emotions. God is an emotional God. He feels joy, grief, pain, and hatred toward sin. He gets frustrated with people. The only reason I have emotions is because I'm made in God’s image. If God wasn’t an emotional God, I wouldn’t have any emotions.

Second, my ability to feel is a gift from God. Emotions are what make me human. It is my emotional ability that allows me to love and create and to be faithful, loyal, kind, and generous—to experience all the emotions that are attached to the good things in life. My emotions may not always seem like a gift, but even the negative ones have a purpose in my life.

Third, there are two extremes to avoid. Emotionalism is the extreme of saying the only thing that matters in life is how I feel—not what I think or what’s right or wrong. Everything in life is based on my emotions. Emotions control my life.

On the other hand, stoicism says feelings aren’t important at all, and the only things that matter are my intellect and my will.

There are many differing approaches to emotions. Some people have decided that it doesn’t really matter how I feel. They downplay emotions—but that’s not right.

The Bible says this about God: “You look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God” (Psalm 7:9 NLT). He really cares about what I think and feel!

God gave me my emotions for a reason, and he wants me to worship him emotionally—with all my heart and all my mind.

In Summary:

Jesus teaches in Mark 12:29-30 that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—showing that God desires a deep, passionate, and emotional relationship with us, not just intellectual belief. This highlights the importance of emotions in our faith, as God Himself is emotional and created us in His image with the ability to feel. Emotions are a gift that allow me to experience life fully, but I must avoid two extremes: emotionalism, where feelings rule over truth, and stoicism, where emotions are ignored. Instead, God calls me to a balanced, wholehearted worship that involves both my thoughts and my feelings.

Purpose Found in Stillness

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

Calling and vision go together. God’s call on my life is his vision for my life. If I want to get God’s vision for my future and experience real transformation, then I’ve got to get his call on my life.

When people hear someone talk about being “called by God,” they sometimes think of it as a scary thing—as if anyone who is called has to be a missionary or pastor or go to some remote part of the world to serve God.

But God’s calling isn’t something spooky or complicated. It’s simply God’s plan and purpose for my life.

Everybody in the whole world is called by God. We are all called to know God and to love him—and to share his love with others. He also calls us to serve him and to use our talents to honor him. The only question is, are we going to answer his call?

To hear God’s call, I’ve got to pay attention to him, which means I have to slow down. I have to make room in my life to make knowing God my first priority.

I can miss Jesus’ call if I'm not paying attention. I might’ve been so focused on my own goals, that I wouldn’t have noticed the unexpected way God was calling me—through the noises in the life.

One way to hear God’s call is to spend regular, consistent time alone with God reading the Bible, praying, and just being still. Isaiah 30:15 says it like this: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (NIV).

When I hear God’s calling in my life and go after it, I will succeed—because God always blesses the vision and calling he gives his people. I need to have and experience quiet time with God, and learn just how much he wants to bless me as I pursue and fulfill my calling.

In summary:

Isaiah 30:15 reminds me that true strength and salvation come through repentance, rest, quietness, and trust in God. To experience real transformation and discover God’s vision for my life, I must embrace his calling—his unique purpose and plan for me. This calling isn’t reserved for pastors or missionaries but is for everyone: to know, love, and serve God, and to share his love with others. However, to hear his call, I must slow down, eliminate distractions, and prioritize time alone with God through Scripture, prayer, and stillness. By doing so, I open my heart to his direction and receive the blessings that come from following his purpose.

Fix My Thoughts, Finding My Strength

“Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:3 (NCV)

God wants me to be healthy in every area of my life—mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. To be strong mentally, I must focus my mind on the right things. Three things I can think about to improve my mental health.

Think about Jesus.
You’ve heard the saying, “You become what you think about most.” If I want to become more like Jesus, I have to focus my thoughts on him.

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Think about Jesus’ example. He held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him. So do not get tired and stop trying” (NCV).

Think about others.
The Bible says in Philippians 2:4, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing” (TLB).

This is very countercultural. Our world teaches us to think about ourselves and nobody else. But Jesus was countercultural, and when I think like him, I'll more naturally think of others.

Think about eternity.
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). When I start focusing on truths like that, all of my problems seem inferior compared to the glory, joy, and pleasure of the things awaiting you in eternity.

My mind is my greatest asset and also my fiercest battleground. I can ask God to help me make the choice every day to feed on his Word, free my mind of destructive thoughts, and fill my mind with Jesus, others, and eternity. Then I'll be well-equipped to fight the battles in my mind.

In summary:

Hebrews 12:3 reminds me to think about Jesus’ perseverance through suffering so I don’t grow weary or give up. God desires me to be healthy in every way, and a strong, healthy mind comes from focusing on the right things. To improve my mental health, I should fix my thoughts on Jesus—becoming more like Him through reflection on His example, think of others instead of just myself—embracing the selfless mindset of Christ, and think about eternity—gaining perspective and hope beyond any present struggles. By choosing daily to focus on these truths and asking God to renew my mind, I equip myself to overcome the mental battles I'll face.

Mastering My Mind, Transforming My Life

“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

God is far more interested in changing my mind than changing my circumstances.

I want God to take away all my problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness. But God wants to work on me first, because transformation won’t happen in my life until I renew my mind—until my thoughts begin to change.

Why is it so important for me to learn to manage my mind? The Bible gives three reasons.

1. Manage your mind because your thoughts control your life.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (GNT). My thoughts have a tremendous ability to shape my life in positive or negative ways. For example, maybe I've accepted a thought someone told me when I was growing up: “You’re worthless. You don’t matter.” If I believed that, even though it was wrong, it has shaped my life. I must choose which thoughts I allow to affect me.

2, Manage my mind because the mind is the battleground for sin.

All temptation happens in the mind. Paul says in Romans 7:22-23, “I love to do God’s will so far as my new nature is concerned; but there is something else deep within me, in my lower nature, that is at war with my mind and wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. In my mind I want to be God’s willing servant, but instead I find myself still enslaved to sin” (TLB).

One reason I get mentally fatigued is because there’s a battle in my mind 24 hours a day. It’s debilitating because it’s intense, and it’s intense because my mind is my greatest asset. Satan wants my greatest asset!

3. Manage your mind because it’s the key to peace and happiness.

An unmanaged mind leads to tension; a managed mind leads to tranquility. An unmanaged mind leads to conflict; a managed mind leads to confidence. When I don’t try to control my mind and direct my thoughts, I will experience an enormous amount of stress in my life. But a managed mind leads to strength, security, and serenity.

“Letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace” (Romans 8:6 NLT).

When my circumstances are out of my control, take the time to manage my mind. Ask God for his help, and I'll find that I can find peace and happiness despite tough times.

In summary:

Proverbs 4:23 teaches that my life is shaped by my thoughts, and God is more focused on transforming my mind than changing my circumstances. Real change begins with renewing how I think, because my thoughts influence my actions, emotions, and ultimately, the direction of my life. The Bible gives three key reasons to manage our minds: our thoughts control our lives, our minds are the battleground for sin, and a managed mind leads to peace and happiness. An unmanaged mind brings stress, tension, and spiritual defeat, while allowing the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts brings strength, serenity, and victory—even in difficult circumstances.

God's Promise of Provision: Trust Over Worry

“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32 (NLT)

The major cause of stress in life is worry. I worry because I wonder if I will have what I need when I need it. But anytime I expect other people to meet my needs instead of God, I'm going to be frustrated and disappointed—because nobody on earth can meet all my needs. Only God can do that.

If I want a cure for stress, I must learn to look to God to meet my needs.

Some people find their security in their job, and when they lose their job, they lose their peace of mind. Others put their security in their marriage. Then their spouse dies, or they go through a divorce, and they ask, “Who am I? What is my identity?” Or maybe putting security in money—but there are a lot of ways to lose money.

Instead of putting my security in things that can be taken away from me, I need to put my security in something I can never lose: my relationship with Christ. I can always trust God to meet my needs.

Romans 8:32 says, “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?” (NLT).

If God loved me enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross, shouldn't I think he loves me enough to take care of every other need in my life? He does.

Every time I start to get stressed, pause and say, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 ESV).

God’s going to provide. He’s going to take care of me. Instead of stressing out, look to him to meet all my needs.

In summary:

Romans 8:32 reminds me that if God was willing to give up His own Son for me, I can trust Him to meet all my needs. The root of much stress is worry—often caused by relying on people, jobs, relationships, or money for security, all of which can fail or be taken away. But true peace comes from placing my trust in God, who never changes and never fails. When I look to Him instead of earthly sources, I find lasting security and relief from stress. Every time worry creeps in, I can rest in the promise that “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

 

Celebrate What God Has Done in Your Life

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . His name is the LORD.” Psalm 68:4 (ESV)

To get back in a right relationship with God, I first need to get fed up with the way I'm living, own up to my sin, and hand over control of my life to God. Then, I celebrate what God has done in my life.

In Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, it’s important to notice the father’s response: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him . . . The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate’” (Luke 15:20, 22-23 NIV). 

The prodigal’s father is like my heavenly Father. No matter what I've done, when I come home to God, he wraps me in his love. He gives me his best and says something like, “All is forgiven! Go get the robe. Go get the shoes. Let’s have a feast! My child has returned to me.”

I come home to a celebration, not condemnation. And God wants me to join the celebration by giving him my praise. 

I can celebrate my spiritual transformation by simply saying, “Thank you, God. Thank you for your grace, love, and goodness. I lift up my praise to you!”

The Bible says in Psalm 68:4, “Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him. . . . his name is the LORD” (ESV).

One of the easiest ways to celebrate my own transformation is by singing to God. Worship songs give me a chance to celebrate what he has done in my life and to thank him.

Even if I'm not good at singing the Bible doesn’t say to make my singing sound pretty. It says to make my singing joyful. I can do that! Anybody can make a joyful noise.

So I'll sing my praise to God—not just for who he is but also for the spiritual transformation he’s made in my life.

In summary:

To return to a right relationship with God, I must first acknowledge my brokenness, confess my sin, and surrender control to Him—just as the prodigal son was welcomed with compassion, celebration, and restoration by his father. God, like that father, eagerly embraces me with love and grace, not condemnation. In response to His goodness, the natural outpouring of my heart is praise—offering thanks for His forgiveness, transformation, and unwavering love. As Psalm 68:4 encourages, I lift my voice in joyful song to celebrate who God is and what He has done in my life, knowing that it’s not about sounding perfect, but about expressing gratitude with joy.