2Timothy 3: 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. --NIV
In the name of the One Who gave us the Holy Scriptures, amen.
"I feel like there is something wrong with him." "I just don't feel good about this." "I feel like she is a good person." "I feel like she loves me." "It feels like everyone is out to get me." "I feel lonely." Phrases like these tell a lot about us. It is not true of the whole world, but Americans base their perception of reality on what they feel.
But our feelings often lie to us. For example, some people feel lonely in a crowd. It is not possible that you are alone if you are in a crowd. Reality may be that you are being ignored, or are so sour that people do not want to speak with you, but you are not alone. Another example is that many, many people are taken advantage of by people they trust. They feel like the person is trustworthy, and ignore the obvious signs that the person is using them.
We carry this feeling based perception of reality into our spiritual life too. We say things like: "I don't feel like God loves me," or "I don't feel saved," or even "I don't feel forgiven." When we do this, we are choosing a different basis for judgment than the Word of God. We also call God a liar, because we trust our feelings more that His word.
God says that He loves the world. He says that He wants all people to be saved, and that everyone who repents of his sins and believes on Jesus Christ as his Savior will be saved. God, in His Word, tells us that our sins are forgiven--even the sin of calling God a liar by putting our feelings over what He says. You can trust God's word, and when things just aren't going right, you can remember His promise, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13: 5)." You can be certain of this, because God forsook His Son, Jesus, in our place. You can be certain of this even if your feelings tell you something else. You can be certain of this, because "All Scripture is God-breathed. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Lord God, You are faithful to Your promises, and what You say is always true. But we often do not trust what You say. We ask that You forgive us for not trusting Your word and in that way calling you a liar. Bless us with Your Holy Spirit, and give us the faith to trust Your promise that our sins are forgiven in Jesus our Savior, and that You do love us. Grant this to us in Jesus' name so that we may glorify Your name through eternity, amen.