Can't Function on Feelings

I've posted about this before. Well kind of. (see http://beautifulp31.blogspot.com/2008/02/head-aces-cramps-and-blues.html) Wouldn't it be so nice if our feelings matched how we wanted to feel. Like today. I want to feel happy, but I feel sad. Physically I'm gr8! I've eaten real good the past 2 days, exercised each day, but I feel like crying. And I don't think it's hormonal this time.

My daughter, Hayley Grace has already picked up on this. Just the other day she said to me, "Mommy, you know how girls feel sad for no reason? Well, that's how I feel now." And she bursted into tears....for no reason!!!!! She's 6 years old for crying outloud!!!!!

Can we change how we feel? I think that yes we can...to a certain point of course. Much of our feelings are chosen by us, don't you think? Like early this morning, I really did feel happy. Then someone said something to me that hurt my feelings and that's all I could focus on. And for the past 2 hours I've been sad...even tearful...feeling defeated. Now I don't want to feel like that all day. So I'm going to have a talk with the One Who loves me and knows me better than anyone else.

"Hi Lord, it's me, Melissa. You know how I'm feeling today. Thank you for caring. I'm so thankful that I can come to You right now. I'm going to open my Bible and think on Your Words. Please open my eyes, ears, and heart to receive what You have to say. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

*Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children---this was his pleasure and purpose. Ephesians 1:5 TEV (God has pleasure and purpose in me, Melissa!)

*Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you. 1 Kings 10:9 NIV (He delights in me, Melissa!)

*Go to the Lord for help; and worship him continually. Psalm 105:4 TEV (God is there to help me when I'm feeling blue...Oh thank you sweet Jesus!)

*I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Isaiah 44:2 CEV (I'm in the care of the Lord, today and always---that's a gr8 place to be!)

*Don't be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the Lord rescue you. The Lord himself with fight for you. You won't have to lift a finger in your defense. Exodus 14:13-14 NLT (I do not need to fret, worry, fear, or even fight. I can rest easy knowing that God will do it all for me, Melissa. I don't even have to lift a finger in my defense!)

*He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. Psalm 121:3 NLT (He is watching over me 24/7...when I'm happy, sad, mad, or asleep. I need to trust in that.)

*I command you---be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NLT (Yes, He's with me wherever I go or however I'm feeling! No need to waste precious time being discouraged!)

*The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 138:8 NIV (Amen! Praise You Father. I am radically committed to You. Use my life for Your purposes....that makes me feel so special!)

*God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things he made. James 1:18 NCV (I have received life through Your Word. How could it be that I, Melissa, could be among the most important of all things You made? Yet I am. I have no words to describe how that makes me feel. Wow.)

(Note that I made the verses personal to me. You make them personal to you. God's Word is for all of us!)

Oh, I feel so much better. Don't you? Join me in meditating on the Word of God today to determine your value. We can't function on feelings, so don't even try.

I pray you have a most wonderful day and that you feel beautiful...inside and out!

Beautiful because I belong to God,

Melissa