Topic: The Word Works
Text: Isaiah 55
Key verse: It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
God\’s word truly works, l have put it to the test several times in my life and it didn\’t fail. Praise God! I remember as a student in the 80\’s we used to sing a song, l can\’t remember the writer to give the credit:
\”Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, l don\’t care what the devil gonna do, a word in faith is my sword and shield, Jesus is the Lord of the way l feel.\”
That song was my inspiration as a teenager when l faced difficult situations, but today l want to point to the last line in the lyrics of that song: … Jesus is the Lord of the way l feel! When we go through trials and difficulties or life has given us several hard blows that have left us traumatized, if you have a very strong support system in the family or your church, you can get help quite early. But the issue of feelings is something you have to take responsibility for, nobody can be the \”Personal assistant\” (PA) of your feelings, you have to take care of it yourself.
Feelings are defined as an emotional state or reaction, an idea or belief, especially a vague or irrational one. Robert Plutchick\’s gives a theory of different feelings and the resultant emotions they produce:
Fear → feeling of being afraid, frightened, scared.
Anger → feeling angry.
Sadness → feeling sad.
Joy → feeling happy.
Disgust → feeling something is wrong or nasty.
Surprise → being unprepared for something.
This theory reveals that at the root of our emotions are feelings, and these are all influenced by some kind of belief or idea. When the word of God is spoken to you or you read it, it is on assignment from the Lord to influence your belief about God, yourself, others, or a situation. If you receive it wholeheartedly and it changes your belief, then it produces a positive reaction in you. It can produce feelings of joy, peace, and hope. These feelings are signs that you have faith.
Faith in God\’s word must affect your feelings. It is an anomaly to see Christians who believe that God can do the miraculous walking about in sadness, anger, or wearing long faces. Your faith must be evident in your feelings. James writes in chapter two of his book that: \”So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.\” If you have faith and it cannot produce good deeds of being joyful, peaceful, and full of hope, then that faith is dead and useless.
Father God knows that we will struggle to manifest the right emotions on our own, that is the reason Jesus prayed for the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who works in us to produce the right feelings irrespective of what we may be facing or have been through. Invite him into your heart to help you produce the right emotions.
\”But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!\” Galatians 5:22-23
It is important to understand how your feelings affect the kind of atmosphere you create around your life. Like a catalyst, feelings inspire and energize you and others. Nowadays, l hear people speak about \”negative vibes\” or energies, these simply refer to the kind of atmosphere you create as a result of your feelings of fear or sadness. God will accomplish great things in your life as we move on in the days ahead. Depend on the Holy Spirit\’s help to manage your feelings, stop walking around looking beaten down when God has spoken well about you!
Get hold of your Rhema, a promise from God to you, and expect great outcomes in Jesus\’ name. Amen. You need the right emotions to nurture your faith until it manifests with testimonies, God\’s sent word always returns with results!
Blessings,
Roses&Thorns