14 Ways Our Feelings Can Deceive Us

"But what if I don't feel like it?" Have you ever heard those words? Maybe you've even said that to someone, or had that thought pop into your head.

​Our current culture tells us to just, "follow your heart."

However, the Bible tells us,

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9

Do we really want to trust something that is deceitful above all things and desperately sick?Or, do we want to trust God, Who is omniscient—all-knowing?

Today, let's look at 14 ways our feelings can (and will) deceive us, and the Scripture to combat those deceitful feelings.

1. I don’t feel like going to church today. "And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12)​
   
   
2. I don’t feel like disciplining my kids. "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." (Proverbs 13:24)
   
   
3. I don’t feel like God is with me in my trial. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
   
   
4. I don’t feel like God loves me. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
   
   
5. I don’t feel like God's way is best. "This God—His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." (Psalm 18:30)
   
   
6. I don’t feel like getting involved and serving in the church. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10)
   
   
7. I don’t feel like reading God's Word today. "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)
   
   
8. I don’t feel like praying. "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
   
   
9. I don’t feel like witnessing. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15)
   
   
10. I don’t feel like loving my enemy. "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those that hate you." (Luke 6:27)
    
    
11. I don’t feel like loving my spouse. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25)
    
    
12. I don’t feel like being humble. "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:6)
    
    
13. I don’t feel like God understands. "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:14)
    
    
14. I don’t feel like I have purpose. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)

How have your "feelings" deceived you, and what Scripture did you use to conquer that deception? 

Thank you Pastor Andrew Starr, Bible Baptist Church, for your sermon reminding
us that our feelings are not the deciding factor when it comes to our faith in God.