Walk by Faith and not by Feelings

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Our feelings change all the time—we can start our day with joy and happiness and before we even get to work—we feel angry about a phone call. If we let our feelings dictate our plans, we would never get anything completed. Part of maturing in our faith is moving beyond our feelings and towards our faith in God. To walk by faith and not our feelings means that:

We return good for evil.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

We aren’t held in restraint by man’s plans, but rather by God’s agenda.
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” (Proverbs 19:21)

We recognize that every day is a gift from God.
“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:14-15)

We forgive others as we’ve been forgiven by God.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
(Colossians 3:13)

We continue to serve others even when we don’t always see thankfulness.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

We are compelled by our calling even when it seems in vain.
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Philippians 3:14-15)