If it feels good...

Have you ever heard someone say they did something because it "feels right?" Emotions are a powerful thing. They have started wars, ended marriages, and changed the dynamics of families.

So how do we know when to listen to our emotions? Whether it's your "gut instinct" or one of those "I've got a feeling moments," how can we determine when to listen to that voice inside?

First, I believe we should be very careful about letting our emotions take control. This can be very challenging for us today. It was only a few decades ago that our culture frowned on emotions. Just think about some of the phrases that still remain in our lexicon:

"Real mean don't show emotions."

"You want me to give you something to cry about."

"Crying is weakness."

"Why are you so emotional?"

Obviously, times have changed. We now have an entire teen subculture named after being emotional. The pendulum seems to have swung the other way. This is even true in many churches.

If you think about the songs and style of worship, much has changed. The "old hymns" seemed to carry a deeper, internal emotion that was to be displayed. They told stories or proclaimed truths about God. They were designed to stimulate our minds much more than our hearts.

Today many of our songs are praise and worship songs that touch our hearts (sometimes to the neglect of our minds, I fear). Emotion appears to be much more accepted in today's church.

So what does all of this have to do with listening to our emotions? First, we must acknowledge that we are often handicapped because the previous generations don't have the experience to help us sort through all of this. Many who are my age and older have parents who did not live in the world we live in. Their world wasn't as open to a public display of emotions.

Second, we have to understand that God created us to be a holistic person. That means that emotions and facts are both important, and neither can stand alone. They must both have their place at the table.

Without emotions, we make decisions that look at the "cold hard" facts. This can cause us to hurt other people and ourselves because we are blind to the emotional aspects of our actions.

On the other hand, decisions made without engaging our mind can lead to foolish decisions that didn't consider the consequences. Proverb 15:14 says, "The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."

So how do we find a good balance? Why not ask the One who designed us in the first place. Let's consider the words of the Apostle Paul...

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Philipians 1:9-11)

True balance comes through having the right perspective. Paul's prayer was that their love would abound in knowledge and depth of insight. How do we listen to our emotions and our mind? We seek the heart and mind of God.

I have found in my life that the more distant from God I become, the more my balance gets out of whack. Sometimes I will make decisions without engaging my emotions and other times I will act on my emotions without thinking. Both can have damaging results.

If I have a "gut instinct" or a feeling about something, I will begin by considering the heart and mind of Christ. That means I need to be in tune with the heart and mind of Christ. Without that connection, the discernment is much more challenging.

I realize that some of us may be overwhelmed by emotions or emotionally numb. (And sometimes both at the same time.) Those extreme situations may require professional help or at least a long period of working through things. That can be a long, challenging journey, but it is worth it.

In today's "if it feels good, do it" world, we are in a battle for our hearts and minds. If we can seek that balance that is centered on God, then we can be "filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."

shine!
Jason