My worth does not come from my accomplishments or successes or how people view me. How often I need to be reminded of this. Lately I think I have let doubts get in the way of moving forward, of pressing on. I read this passage this morning:
“I have discovered that no matter how doubtful I feel, I can decide to go forward in faith. My feelings are not me. I am greater than my feelings and so are you. No matter how we feel, we can still choose to do the right thing. Going against your feelings are frequently very strong, but standing against them until you enjoy freedom is much better than continuing to let them run your life and hold you in bondage.
In Joshua 24:15 we see Joshua make a decision. He says, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, either the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua made his mind up, and nobody was going to change it. He didn’t make his decision based on what others did. He refused to live under the fear of man.”
My prayer today is for boldness, for confidence….a confidence in Christ where doubts fade away and seem so small. Be encouraged today!
I often feel this way. I know that it is harmful to live by the judgement of others, but honestly, it is hard not to. It is very freeing to stand up with your own thoughts and live the way you want, not the way others think you should.
Thank you for these words today…my prayer is the same as yours. :)
Thanks for this lovely reminder this morning! It’s hard not to get entwined in our feelings and perceptions… but it’s also hard to grow if we’re tangled up in them. (And the photograph is beautiful, by the way.)
Thanks for this reminder. I really needed to hear this today, and everyday! Feelings are strong and it’s so hard to overcome them to do the right things in life. It is so important for us to push beyond them.
“My feelings are not me. I am greater than my feelings…” I love this, thank you. Especially as someone who struggles with depression, this is such a truth in my life. I also like to remind myself that happiness is a form of courage. So whenever the world tells me my life isn’t that great and the enemy tries to tell me I should be despairing, I remember that I am not my feelings and I can be brave by choosing to be happy. Thanks for this reminder today!
Thank you for your words of encouragement today! Lately I have been a bit discouraged in this area & your words really lifted me up!! I thank God for the beauty & encouragement that I have felt from reading your blog! :)
words that definitely needed to be heard this morning. thank you.
Lovely post once again! I have to admit that your blog is so inspiring to me. It really makes me want to open my heart to God and to become closer to my faith. It’s so refreshing! Thank you!
So needed to read this, Arielle! It’s such an encouragement to me! I, too, struggle with doubts, and the ‘fear of man’ that have kept me from moving on. I so often wonder at the things I have missed. I thank God that He put this on your heart to share! I heard this said the other day, “what others think of us is none of our business.” How I want to get that, along with what you’ve shared here about ‘feelings’, rooted down deep in my spirit and move on in faith and confidence! I want to be one who absolutely refuses to live under the fear of man! And, yes, my heart also echos your prayer! Thank you for sharing this much needed encouragement today! (Love your image, as well!!) I’ve missed dropping in here … must change that, too!! :)
taking note of this quote! so good, and exactly what I’ve needed to hear as of late. thanks! =)
I heart this whole thing. I love the book of Joshua. And that verse is up in my home (as I’m sure its in many other’s).
I’m praying for that confidence and boldness in Christ, myself..for me. Definitely need to let those fears fade away.
ooohh…and LOOOOOOVE that picture. Everything about it, L-O-V-E!
Emily at Amazing Grapes
God taught me the exact same thing recently! I was struggling with doubts about my salvation for several months, and God revealed to me through the words of friends and one of my professors that believing in Him and his sacrifice is a choice. One night I felt God compelling me to go to a night of worship so I went and invited my friend to go, too. The speaker spoke on the topic of suffering and then afterwards she asked us to pray together in small groups, confessing sins and struggles to one another and then lifting each other up in prayer. I confessed to my friend that I’d been struggling with believing that I was really saved, so she prayed for me to be assured of my salvation. Her words were simple, but they hit the spot, and really encouraged me. Since then, I haven’t had another doubt about my salvation, but rather a peace and trust that the Lord has saved me and a quiet conviction to do more for Christ.
Thank you very much for the encouragement, Arielle. God is always faithful, even when we are not, and choosing to believe in him is taking a bold step of faith that pleases Him greatly. :)
You have no idea how much I needed to hear this.
My fiance and I are deep in wedding plans. We have done a few things differently and I have been surprised by some of the negative comments those who care about us have said. We are trying to create a day that celebrates the life and the family that we are building, not just blindly doing what everyone else does.
Thank you for your words of encouragement, I will remember “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” and feel bold enough not to worry about what our loved ones are saying.