Fact or Feeling?

“As a woman, my emotions play a huge part in my life and decision making process. I am neither proud nor ashamed of this – it is simply how it is in my life. Since coming to SYME God has taken great strides at bringing me to understand and realize that emotions are not a firm foundation. They are as reliable as a sandcastle on a beach during a hurricane. They turn and change as quickly as the clouds.

Being on the praise band has been such a wonderful experience and training ground. To have the responsibility to help lead worship is weighty. It is a HUGE motivation to live a pure life. When temptations come, I am reminded about praising God and being pure before Him and people and it is a big encouragement to maintain a pure life. Being on the Praise Team has shown me that even when I don’t feel like worshipping and don’t feel close to God that I can still praise Him. When I think that God doesn’t hear me or answer me and I feel as though I can’t sing Him a song, He reminds me that the true heart of worship is not about me.

True worship is not an emotional experience but giving honor and praise to God because He is worthy. His worthiness has absolutely nothing to do with my emotions but everything to do with the truth of Who He is. In James 1:17 it says that the Father does not change like shadows. In Hebrews 13:8, it tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. If Christ was worthy of praise and honor yesterday, than He is still worthy today. Because His character is permanent, I can offer praise even when I don’t feel like it because He is still the same.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 tells us to “Be joyful always”; Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”; Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” . Those are not suggestions but commands. To honestly and completely obey God, those are things that should characterize our lives.

Besides the fact that we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord always, why should we rejoice? Isaiah 61:10 “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. God has given me righteousness and a relationship with Him. So it doesn’t matter what comes, I have peace and good standing with the only true God. On that standing alone I can have joy no matter what!

In conclusion, God has taught me that my emotions don’t make Him worthy of praise, but I can praise Him always because of Who He is. He also taught me that I can rejoice always in every situation because He is worthy and because of His loving-kindness. My emotions change all the time, but I can always praise Him because He never changes!”

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”
~Psalm 107:21, 22