Feelings? Right? What do we men know about feelings? I know one thing about feelings — I seem to be moved and controlled by them a lot. So it makes me think, is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? Or just a thing? If I think of feelings as just interacting with something perceived through touch, then if I feel or touch something with my hands or some part of my body, then I am using one of the five senses to determine if something is hard or soft, hot or cold, wet or dry, rough or smooth. Then feelings just becomes “a thing.” If I think of feelings as a sensitive, caring, helpful thought toward someone else, then feelings could be a “good thing.”
But that’s not really primarily what I’m talking about when I talk about feelings. I’m talking about my emotions — what moves me, what makes me happy, what makes me sad, what makes me angry, what makes me delighted, what gets me worked up. Mostly these feelings have a self-focused “I, me, my” quality to them, and this could be a “bad thing.”
As I looked through Scripture for counsel on my feelings, that word is not really used; however, the word that is used that seems to fit what I’m talking about is passion. And when Scripture talks about passion it is primarily in the negative. “A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones” (Proverbs 14:30). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Colossians 3:5).
So what am I to do with these passions, these feelings? I’m thinking Colossians 3:12 has the answer, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Who is served by these feelings, these passions? Self? Or Jesus?
I love You God. I trust You God. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank You God.
—Robin
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