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On our facebook live Sunday service this week, (St. Peters Church Hednesford, Staffordshire), were; Psalm 116:1-7, Acts 2:36-39. And the song My lips shall praise you.It made me think about the fact that how we are feeling is less important than how we react to them.
What I mean is, we all get down. Everyone of us have times -not just one time, but times – when we simply cannot cope with what is going on in our lives. Especially if we have lost someone close to us, but maybe not anything dramatic – just day to day life can be very wearing on our nerves. These are times when fear and hopelessness get a grip on us, and all our faith cannot lift us out of the downward spiral.
We know God is there, we trust him, but we are not in control of our feelings and this is when guilt creeps in and adds to the unbearable weight of negativity.
The devil will try to use these feelings against us, telling us we are useless Christians, useless human beings and unacceptable to God - Don't believe him!!
The Psalms are attributed to some of the most important people in the bible, like King David, yet they are full of confessions of negative feelings and despair.
But God listened to them, accepted their repentance and forgave them. He still used them for his glory, and he can do the same for us if we are genuine in our repentance of wrong behaviour and thinking.
In Acts 2, the people were 'cut to the heart' - meaning distressed, fearful and guilty. So they asked Peter what they should do. Peter replies, 'repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'
He goes on to say, 'the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord will call.'
If you have been baptised in Jesus name, and you have already accepted Jesus, all you need to do is repent, which means change your mind. So how do you change your mind when you can't see the wood for the trees?
You turn to God and praise him. Even though you may not be feeling it right at the moment, you choose to praise him, and he hears your prayers.
His love overflows for you and he starts the process of getting you right again.
Sometimes it will be quick, sometimes it may take a while, but you can be sure he is working for you, and as the song goes, you will dance again. Remember, we don't do anything in our power. He does it for us in our weakness....not our works, but His goodness!
This is how I understand my God.
Read for yourself, see what think.