Living by Faith, not just Emotions
Guest Post by Ginger Harrington
(Today my friend Ginger Harrington is sharing from her book Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life. about a subject near and dear to both of us - living a soul strong faith through authenticity. Selah-Award finalist and dynamic speaker, Ginger Harrington is the wife of a retired Marine and mama mom to three young adults. Helping women discover biblical ways to experience wholeness and healing in Christ, Ginger writes for GingerHarrington.com and is the publishing director for Plantingroots.net.)
GINGER: Living by faith rather than our emotions is often easier said than done.
Most of us struggle on some level to live like who we are rather than how we feel in the moment. Consider a conversation I had with a friend as we grappled with the truth that we really are holy in Christ (1 Peter 2:5,9).
“I sure don’t feel holy. I try to be a great mom, but then I yell at my kids . . . again. Or I get impatient with my husband. My good intentions seem to do me no good as harsh words fly out of my mouth. How can I be holy when I can’t seem to get a handle on frustration and anger? I feel like I’ll never measure up to the person God wants me to be,” Angie said with a sigh.
God is at work in you.
We all need frequent reminders that we are God’s work in progress:
“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 AMP).
Do you feel stuck in the old ways of letting feelings define your value and boss your heart around? When feelings overshadow faith, it creates an internal struggle. Angie didn’t feel holy, but the truth is she is holy and loved in Christ (Colossians 3:12).
It’s tempting measure our spiritual condition based on feelings. Maybe you’ve had thoughts like these:
- I don’t feel like God hears my prayers.
- I don’t feel like God is with me.
- I don’t feel like God really accepts me.
- I don’t feel like I’m saved.
- I don’t feel like I’m free from guilt.
- I don’t feel like . . .
Spiritual growth accelerates as we learn to experience our feelings yet still make the choice to embrace the truth of who we are in Christ.
When feelings shape our faith.
The train illustration helped me to understand the role of truth, faith, and feelings. If fact (truth) is the engine of a train, faith is the car following the engine, and feelings are the caboose. We struggle every time we allow feelings to take over the engine. As women, it’s easy get this turned around, allowing our feelings to drive our faith.
Appropriating truth, living it out in the moment, is far more than head knowledge of knowing the facts. The more we choose to act like who we are regardless of how we feel, the more our thoughts, emotions, and behavior align with our true identity as God’s precious girls.
Even though I know that I am holy in Christ, I still have to make the choice to live like this is true. Holy moments include the art of living by faith rather than our emotions, a daily dance between our beliefs, feelings, and decisions.
We have a holy choice.
You have a choice to act like who you are rather than how you feel.
This may sound silly, but it is a reminder we often need. For instance, I don’t feel like I’m worthy to do the ministry work God has given me to do. The truth is God has called me to encourage and equip women to thrive in their identity in Christ.
Even on the days I struggle with insecurity, I know He’s with me in each word I write and speak. I don’t always feel His presence, but I count it by faith to be so. I believe His promises and trust in His calling. I’m deciding to behave like a writer, living out of the talent and ability He’s given me, and choosing to trust Him with the results.
As for tomorrow, I’ll need to make the same choices again.
How about you? Are you remembering today isn’t the end of your story? Today’s struggle isn’t forever as God brings you to completion and full maturity of holiness. He is making you holy and whole—spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
What would it be like to speak the truth to your soul that you are worthy of love and acceptance right now?
Not when you get it all together or if you do it all right?
Do you believe this? If not, ask God to enable your feelings to catch up with your faith as you choose to trust Him in the moment. Write yourself this reminder and post it on the wall or tuck it into your Bible, “Today I choose to act like who I am, not how I feel.”
Back to LUCINDA: I loved reading “Holy in the Moment” by Ginger Harrington and one of my most favorite parts of the book is that she gives some great practical lists for how to begin applying what the reader is learning. So please be sure and enter our giveaway (below) where YOU might receive her book as well as my “Soul Strong!” For more resources on handling your emotions, get Ginger’s free Emotional Health Workbook. Connect with Ginger on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or request to join the Holy in the Moment Community group on Facebook.
Join us for my interview with Ginger next Wednesday Sept. 23 at NOON (Eastern) on Facebook Live @Ginger Harrington as we talk about becoming Soul Strong!
Join the fun with our book giveaway!
We’re thrilled to team up and offer a soul strengthening book bundle of both of our books! See the Rafflecopter below for details on how to enter!
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“Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength”
©2020 Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Lucinda Secrest McDowell is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” She has authored 15 books including “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life” and “Life-Giving Choices – 60 Days to What Matters Most.” She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and shares encouragement at LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com
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I’m thrilled to be a guest on your beautiful website, Lucinda! What a special gift to be able to team up together to encourage others to live soul strong!
Yes, Ginger. The messages in “Holy in the Moment” and “Soul Strong” are so compatible and I’m excited that one of our readers will win a copy of BOTH books! Thanks for encouraging us not to just depend on emotions — which are all over the place these days!
There is that word again Choice. We have a choice to make and live the truth despite our feelings. Thank you both.
Thank you! The train analogy was helpful!
Bless you both! ❤️
Hi Maureen! The train analogy was a game changer for me! Hope it blesses you in a powerful way. It helps us be more aware of how our emotions influence us, sometimes in ways that distract our attention from embracing what God says is true. Blessings go you!
Hello Maureen and belated birthday blessings across the miles. Thank you for reading — God always has new things for us to learn, right? Stay well, dear friend.
I am so thankful that I signed for Lucinda’s newsletter. These brighten my week and keep my going.
Amy, thank you for reading and for your very kind words — they encouraged me today! Take care and remember God is always beside you.
Thank you so much for this Cindy and Ginger. It’s exactly what I needed this morning. It’s been such a struggle in these last 6 months of distance learning with 6 kids (thank you Lord for having summer be in the middle of it). My emotions have been on a roller coaster I’ve never been on before.
Oh Andrea, how often I have thought of you and Dan and the kids during this long and challenging season. But so glad you are in a new home and praying for each one. Thank you for reading and may God bless you all.
This is a beautiful post. Thank you, both.
I especially like: “You have a choice to act like who you are rather than how you feel.” And I’m sharing the train analogy with some teens!
Hi Sally! How fun to connect again with you here on Lucinda’s beautiful blog! This is a great analogy to share with teens! Let me know how it goes!
I forgot to add that I’ve read “HOLY IN THE MOMENT” and it is one of my all-time favorite books. I bought another copy for my mom. If I win this copy, I’m giving it to my sister. 🙂 I’ve not read SOUL STRONG yet, so I’d keep that for me! 🙂
Sally, your words are a deep encouragement to me! I’m so glad you and your family are loving Holy in the Moment! Thanks for sharing this! Hugs to you!
Yes Sally! I also loved “Holy in the Moment” and hope you will enjoy “Soul Strong” as well. Ginger and I are kindred spirit sisters with our messages.
I have BOTH of your wonderful books so am not entering the giveaway, but what a great idea to share them together. Cheering you on!