Why do people say don't depend on feelings?

1. Feelings Are Real But Not Always Reliable

Feelings are real, but they are not always right. They can be from the enemy and they most often align with facts of our lives and so it becomes very difficult for us to discern between what is from devil and what is from God. Emotions are a natural part of being human and God created us to have them. I personally find it very annoying when people say don’t depend on your feelings, depend on word of God. When there is a problem that is consuming you and even after repeated long prayers if God is not responding then how can they say depend on God’s word. I get pissed of very often. But now after around 20 years of walking with Christ I think I understand what it actually means.

I was suffering anxiety when I was out of college and jobless, every day I would sink in worry about my financial state. In Sunday church the pastor said, “Tell the devil you will not be poor.” All at once I felt like he rebuked the spirit working on me. This is what it means not to depend on feelings but on the word of God. Deuteronomy 28:12 "You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow". This was quoted by him. After I came home I no more suffered this anxiety, but the word of God got rooted in my heart like an anchor and it held me, I kept walking with faith and did not give up hope. A few months later I got a job.

Declaring word of God in times of despair pushes evil forces behind. It makes them take an immediate step backwards. Word of God when comes out of your mouth, you make the satanic fog around you to get cleared. Imagine a ship caught in raging winds, as soon as the anchor is dropped it holds the ship from drifting apart. Word of God works exactly like anchor in our lives.    

Evil spirits talk to us. They pour thoughts into our minds and this is their favorite task. I write this in almost every blog of mine that churches are failing all around the world to address this fact. I don’t know why but they don’t talk about it. It’s a daily puppet show they keep playing with us. If we are holy, done with the morning prayer, cleansed and covered with the blood of Jesus for the day, they cannot touch us, so now what do they do, they attack us from forward, through whomever they see in front of us, they use them. They very easily succeed in annoying us. The Bible verse "The tongue has no bones but it is strong enough to break a heart" Proverbs 15:1 says it all. Some people when they talk they release negative satanic power over us. Stay away from such toxic people. Their words pierce through our heart and keeps circling in brain, disturbing us for the whole day.  

• The Heart Can Be Deceptive: The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is more deceitful than anything else and very wicked. Who can understand it?" This means that our feelings, which come from the heart, can sometimes trick us. They may not always show the truth or the real facts of a situation. I read a book in which I came across the case of two sisters, the elder one was turning into lesbian and the younger one was praying hard to protect her. The deception of evil spirits is so sharp, they use word of God to deceive people. It is written in bible that homosexuality is a sin.

                 Corinthians 6:9-10: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1: 26-28: For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

Leviticus 20:13 - If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

In spite of all these clear statements written in bible against homosexuality, spirits could easily deceive the elder sister using another scripture verse that says,  1 John 1:9 ... “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”.

             Sins that are done intentionally, I don’t think they can be forgiven.

• Basing Decisions on Truth: Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This suggests that instead of relying solely on our feelings, we should seek God’s wisdom and grounding in His word, the Bible.

• Feelings vs. Faith vs Sight: Often in the Bible, believers are encouraged to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). This means that even if feelings make us doubt or fear, we can choose to trust in God’s promises and truths. Not walking by sight, I learnt that it means not to look at the prosperity of others. Because whatever God is capable of devil is also capable of doing it, almost everything. I used to see people involving in idol worship were not cursed but were actually blessed with riches and happy life. Someone I know was involved in all kinds of wrong deeds secretly and he was not cursed at all, but was earning tons and tons of money, outwardly he showed a legal business, but I know that there is a totally different movie being played behind the screens, because he offered me a job in his firm, that’s how I came to know about it. So this is actually what it is meant to not walk by sight but by faith or at least I got to understand this. 

The Bible advises seeking wisdom, grounding decisions in Scripture, and trusting in God’s promises, especially when feelings might lead us astray.

2. How Do You Separate Feelings from Facts

Here’s a biblically-inspired, step-by-step guide to help you:

1. Put everything in prayer: Start by asking God for wisdom, as James 1:5 encourages. This opens your mind up to clearer thinking.
2. Identify the Feeling: Name what you’re feeling, whether it’s fear, anger, or jealousy. Recognizing the emotion helps you address it.
3. Seek Truth in Scripture: Use the Bible to guide you. As Psalms 119:105 says, it is a “lamp for your feet, a light on your path.”
4. Gather Evidence: Look at the facts of the situation. What can be proven? Remember, as Proverbs 18:17 points out to question the first explanation you hear.
5. Talk it Out: Discuss your feelings with someone you trust. Proverbs 11:14 suggests that safety comes from having many advisors.
6. Challenge you’re Feelings: Consider if your feelings are based on the current situation or past experiences, which might distort your view.
7. Wait and Reflect: Be patient and thoughtful before making decisions, as Proverbs 14:29 advises.
8. Practice Mindfulness: Stay present to help separate emotional reactions from factual observations.
9. Reaffirm Your Identity in Christ: When in doubt, remind yourself of your identity in Christ, as stated in Romans 8:37.

By using these steps and grounding yourself in biblical wisdom, you can better distinguish between feelings and facts and navigate life’s challenges more effectively.

Always remember if you are or the people around you, be it your family or friends, if you guys are people who are easily driven by feelings then you are a perfect cupcake for evil spirits. So be aware, be alert and stay safe. A thought is enough for evil spirits to enrage you or others against you, they usually don’t get the need to use guns or missiles. A broken person or a broken home is their perfect meal.

3. How Do You Live By Faith and Not By Feelings

1. Study the bible: The bible is the foundation of the Christian faith, and it provides guidance on how to live a life of faith. Christians should regularly read and study the Bible to understand God’s promises and to develop a deeper relationship with Him. Use God’s word to help you manage your feelings and heal from your past.
2. Pray: Prayer is a way of communication with God and express faith in Him. Christians should pray regularly, both to build their relationship with God and to ask for guidance with their feelings.
3. Join a community of believers: Christians are not meant to live in isolation. Joining a community of believers can provide support and encouragement when faith is challenged. As Christians we need each other, a fellow believer in church always used to tell me, “don’t isolate yourself” because lonely sheep becomes an easy target.
4. Focus on God’s character and promises: Rather than relying solely on feelings, Christians should focus on God’s character and His promises. God is faithful and true to His promises, even when circumstances may suggest otherwise.
5. Practice obedience: Living by faith involves not only believing in God but also obeying His commands. Christians should strive to live in a way that is pleasing to God, even when it is difficult. What are you focusing on? What are you watching? Are you allowing your feelings to guide to seek God for healing? or are they dominating your life?

Cultivate meaningful Christian friendships while growing in your faith. Study resources that are designed to guide you in your spiritual renewal and help you deepen your relationship with God. Participate from the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you. Don’t miss out Sunday church in your initial days, because God might want to talk to you.

Hope this article is useful for you. May you enjoy your life to the fullest and learn to discern thoughts by the grace of God. Amen.