Daily devotion – be careful what leads you..
We are unique creatures, made in the image of God, and with that comes the beautiful complexity of our emotions. Some days, our hearts overflow with joy and happiness, while other days, we find ourselves in quiet reflection or weighed down by a deep sense of somberness. Much like the weather—where one day is sunny and warm, and the next is cold and rainy—our feelings can shift, change, and evolve.
Just as we experience God’s presence in different ways, there are times when He speaks to us gently, drawing us near in humility. And there are other moments when we sense His might and power in a dramatic way. However, the challenge for us as believers is this: Our hearts and emotions can be deceptive. If we base our Christian walk solely on how we feel, we risk being led astray.
This is where the unchanging truth of God’s Word comes in. It remains the same yesterday, today, and forever—just as our Lord Jesus Christ never changes.
Consider the prophet Jeremiah, who was called to serve God as a teenager. Throughout his life, he experienced incredible highs and deep lows as he faithfully fulfilled the difficult ministry God assigned to him. Jeremiah understood the danger of following emotions without grounding them in truth. He gave us a powerful warning:
Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
Our emotions are not meant to guide us. Instead, our faith must rest firmly on God’s Word—a foundation that never changes.
Even Jeremiah, in the midst of his own struggles, reached a point where his emotions led him to believe he could no longer speak the things God told him to proclaim. In his distress, he tried to follow his feelings. But then he discovered something profound—God’s Word inside him could not be silenced:
Jeremiah 20:9 says, “But His word was in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.”
Similarly, the Apostle Paul, who faced tremendous trials and persecution, was driven not by fleeting emotions but by a relentless calling from God:
1 Corinthians 9:16 says, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
When we rely on emotions alone, they can become a dangerous compass, leading us away from God’s purpose. But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and rooted in God’s truth, we are empowered to accomplish His will.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Let us be mindful that while our feelings will come and go, our faith is grounded in the eternal Word of God. With His Spirit and His truth guiding us, we can endure, serve, and live for Him no matter the emotional storms we face.