The Battle of the Mind: Feelings Versus Faith

Many believers characterize their faith by how they feel.  God gave us emotions, to exhilarate, warn, direct and inspire us. However, we must always examine our feelings based on the state of our heart, which can be tainted by our sin nature.  Emotions/feelings can come from the enemy, and mislead us.   Let’s learn to control our soul realm (feelings/emotions) so that we think and act in line with God; not the enemy.

Scriptures:

Romans 12:2:   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.   ^KJ

NLT:  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Jeremiah 17: 9, 10:   9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure—who can understand it?  10  I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.  ^{Berean Study heart- leb- feelings, will and intellect}

Romans 6: 2-4:   How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  NKJ

Romans 6: 12-14:   12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  ^{NKJ  members-melos-limb or body part}

Romans 8:6:   The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  ^NIV

NLT:  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  ^{Mind phromena-feelings guided by inclination and purpose; opinion}

Ephesians 6: 10-13:  10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   ^{NKJ  wiles-methodeia- accompany in a journey by lying in wait to trick; trickery}

Mark 16: 17a:   And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons…   ^NKJ

2 Corinthians 10: 3-6:   3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.   ^{Berean Study   strongholds-fortresses of human reasoning reinforced by subtle arguments in the mind;  false beliefs against God} 

James 4:6-8:   “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”  7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  ^{NKJ   hearts-kardia-feelings, thoughts, mind}

James 1: 19, 20:  So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  ^{NKJ   wrath-stretching forth excitement of the mind from indignation, punishment; violent passion, anger}

Joshua 1: 6-9:   6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.  7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.  9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  ^{Berean Study}
2 Timothy 1:7:   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  ^NKJ

Berean Literal:   For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of self-control.

Ephesians 6:16: Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  ^KJ

^{Darts – missiles, spears, arrows}