Jenn's Journey from Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

Good morning! It's that time of week again and I am so glad to be here. How are you 'feeling'? Grab a cup of coffee and let's talk about that!!!
I am reading a most fabulous book. It's called "Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind" By Timothy Jennings.
There is no coincidence I am reading the chapter I am today… on feelings. I am always amazed how God does this. I can pray on something and He brings my attention to something just when I needed it, today, through this book. I was praying this morning for my daughter. She has recently been saying she is dumb and that she does not like herself. This breaks my heart as I was about her age when I began doing the same thing. I can’t help but see where this may be stemming from. When she visits her dad, there is also someone else there, his pregnant girlfriend who takes all of his time and attention. My daughter is really feeling it and has told me she feels left out, that though her dad tells her she is his number one, he does not treat her that way. Yes, a six-year-old told me this!
In my own journey of healing and not allowing my feelings to rule me, I have learned a lot. Feelings are important, they must be listened to and identified, yes, but, they are not always necessarily true. A couple sentences from this book stood out to me and I must share them:
"Feelings are like psychological flares. They go off and tell us something is happening in a certain direction, but we don't know what that is until we investigate."
"Feelings are extremely unreliable and will lead into destructive avenues if not first confirmed or rejected through a reasonable evaluation of the evidence."
"Elevating feelings to reason and conscience for examination and investigation in light of the facts, evidence and truth, and then choosing to follow that truth will always restore order and bring peace to the mind. The greatest battle is learning to value truth because it IS true not just because it 'feels' true."
The book also gives an example: if someone hands a person $1 million in diamonds and that person casts them into the trash saying "No one would give away diamonds. How ridiculous" Does that change the worth of the diamonds??? WE are diamonds, by God's design and belief, and yet, we allow other people's opinions to decide our worth.
Jesus says that “the truth will set you free” John 8:32. What truth do you see in these quotes from the book? I see that I have believed UN-truths for a long time and now that I have a new perspective, it is up to me to begin changing the way I think in order to have true resolution and peace. Another favorite verse of mine and one I claim as my mantra is Romans 12:2 "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
What 'truth' do you need to discover? May you be blessed as you uncover God's perfect and pleasing will for you this week!
Until next week,


Jenn