Taking God at His Word

~ Amanda

God has been teaching me how to ‘take Him at His Word’ no matter how I’m feeling. I am learning to remind myself that even when I’m feeling one way or another, it doesn’t mean that these emotions line up with reality.

I recently finished a book that a friend gave to me as a gift soon after I became a Christian: Faith is Not a Feeling: Choosing to Take God at His Word by Ney Bailey. I only wish I’d read it sooner! Here are some gleanings from what I have been learning:

Choosing to Take God at His Word

It is a matter of putting aside how I feel and choosing to trust in what His Word says instead of my own feelings. God and His Word are constant and will never perish. My feelings, however, are ever changing and often reflect my over-analysis or over-reaction to life.

One of the feelings I’ve dealt with lately is feeling worthless or unloved. But despite such feelings affecting me at times, I know that God loves me because His Word says so, and there are many verses to prove it!

As Psalm 119:76 states, God loves us unfailingly:

May Your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to Your promise to Your servant.

& in Psalm 36:7, for a second example:

How priceless is Your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

Like me, you may find yourself worrying about needless things, which reveals to us that we are not trusting in God and His Word as we should. During such moments, we can remind ourselves:

  1. God will take care of us and our concerns (1 Peter 5:7)
  2. God is faithful – always (1 Corinthians 1:8-9)
  3. His love for us is immeasurably wide, long, high and deep (Ephesians 3:18-19)
  4. God works in all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)

Choosing to take God at His Word: An important new habit to put into practice.

As we remind ourselves of God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, our emotions will lose their power over us. As we study the Scripture and meditate on God’s Word, our minds and emotions will be transformed. Our feelings will come into greater alignment with Christ as we choose to take Him at His Word.

6 thoughts on “Taking God at His Word”

  1. Thanks, Kim. I’m the same way… always relearning this & having to really work on making it a habit in ALL things, which is the hardest part when a ‘new’ stress can appear in life, even the most mundane, unimportant things.. It’s definitely a life-long practice & walk in the Christian faith. 🙂

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  2. These are great revelations, Amanda. God seems to have to re-teach me this idea over and over…. this thing of choosing to believe and trust despite my emotions. Seems like I’ll ‘get’ it in one area, and then turn around and let my emotions dictate my perceived reality in a different area. Sigh. Someday. 🙂

    Thanks for your comments on the video on my blog. I agree…. It is completely amazing.

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  3. found you via smittys blog. you are so right on amanda in the need to take God at His Word as opposed to tying Him to our emotions. He declares Himself in His Word. So if our feelings are telling us something else then its His Word that is more reliable a constant reminder i need!! Enjoy your site and your sharing amanda, grace and peace!!

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  5. I enjoyed your post. It’s so great to have an online community of believers.
    Two summers ago we made the trip across country to the mountains. It was sooo beautiful. My pastor recently said there are some places you are called to and some sentenced to. The mountains would be a calling to that’s for sure. What a beautiful part of the country!

    Blessings,
    Debbie aka The Real World Martha

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  6. The Lord led me to your blog only moments ago, and I must tell you Amanda, He used your heart-felt writing to encourage me and remind me that our feelings often lie to us and that its when we’re in the midst of the darkest chapters of life, that we can grow closer to him, and fall deeply in love with him.
    I’m delighted to know of your blog, and am so happy for you that you can live in the mountains. I wold gladly haunt the mountains forever! I will be an ardent reader of yours, and will pray that that he “who is able to to above and beyond” would continue to inspire you as you glorify him and teach others.
    Happy autumn!
    Jo

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