Feelings and Choices

I don’t always feel the way I should. When I feel something that I don’t want to feel or don’t feel something that I do want to feel, I can’t just decide to change my feelings. As fickle as they are, feelings do not give way to reason. Telling myself I ought not to be hurt by some slight simply doesn’t make the pain go away.

Nonetheless, there are choices I can make that indirectly and effectively change my feelings. Rarely do they result in an immediate change, but they do help me to become more Christ-like in the long run, and so affect how I feel about God, my circumstances, my friends and enemies, and myself.

1. I can choose to obey Philippians 4:8: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2. I can choose to rejoice always. Philippians 4:4

3. I can choose to give thanks in everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

4. I can choose to obey any particular Scripture which applies to a given situation, looking to God for grace. 1 Peter 5:5 God giveth grace to the humble.

The choice to do right is easier in some circumstances than in others, but God is faithful, and in every temptation He will make a way to overcome if we look to Him. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Puppy Slippers

With 13 grandchildren and more on the way, I haven't kept up on animal slippers. Forgetting how hard the embroidery is, I recently decided to make some more. They all came out puppies.