Forgetful Friday--Feelings

In preparing something to write today, I went back and read last week's post, A Reflection of Me. It got me to thinking about my attitude last week, that while it was wicked and sinful and rooted in discontentment, there was another factor to consider: how I was feeling.

I was feeling under the weather (from the pollen, I guess) and dealing with the usual hormonal fluctuations us females experience (sorry if that's TMI...any married men will understand and you unmarried ones will need to).

Now, before anyone starts thinking that I'm seeking to excuse my behavior, believe me, I'm not. But I must acknowledge that how you feel often affects how you act, and react, to people and situations.

Hormones are powerful things. If they're out of balance one way, you can be plunged into a deep, dark depression. If they're out of balance the other way, you can feel like you're on cloud 9. And both of these unrelated to circumstances.

When you don't feel well, it takes all your strength just to do the basics; all your energy just to keep functioning somewhat normally. You don't have the energy to spare for being patient or kind. 

But should your actions be based on how you feel? No way! For that is walking in the flesh.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." Galatians 5:16-17

I was walking in the flesh, letting discontentment and feeling unwell rule my actions.

I once heard Paul Washer talk about fasting. He gave a reason for fasting I had never heard before: to weaken your flesh, to remove any human strength you might think you have, in order to see how wretched you really are.

Sickness and hormonal issues don't add difficulty or irritation to your life, it takes away a false sense of strength and reveals who you really are.

When I feel unwell (which isn't very often), I have the unconscious tendency of trying to pretend like I feel just fine. I'm not sure why. But, if I would just acknowledge when I'm under the weather to myself, to God and to those around me, things would be much better.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

It's in the tiny, seemingly insignificant moments when we deny ourselves for the sake of others, that we become most like Christ. And the more we do it, the better!

"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
 Galatians 5:24