Proverbs 4:23 “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from that flows the wellspring of life.”
Emotions, according to the dictionary, are a conscious mental reaction — such as anger or fear — subjectively experienced as a strong feeling, usually directed toward a specific object or person, and demonstrated in a behavior which creates physiological changes in the body.
My dad used to say, "Beauty is as beauty does," meaning if you are beautiful on the inside, it can't help but be seen on the outside.
In the dictionary, “beauty” is a noun, and it says, “Qualities in a person or thing that give pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit. Loveliness, physical beauty, or natural beauty, as in an island. ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever,’ said John Keats. A person or thing of beauty is particularly graceful, ornamental, or of excellent quality."
I noticed that, on the inside of me, I was feeling pleasant, beautiful emotions, feelings that were delightful. Then I decided to read the antonyms. The antonyms are grotesqueness, hideousness, plainness, unattractiveness, unsightliness, and as I read these, I noticed from the inside, I was starting to feel cramped up or disgusted in my emotions. My physiology was responding to what I was seeing and reading. The Lord says, pay close attention.
Pay attention to the affections of your heart. Those are the feelings, emotions, desires, and love — if they are in line with Godly emotions, thoughts, and attitudes — which lead to behavior that is fruitful, life-giving, and abundant.
But bad feelings also bear fruit in the form of attitudes which lead to actions, behaviors, and habits, so be mindful of what your heart is saying and whether the feelings coming from your heart feel life-giving or feel like death.
He has given us the ability to respond to His voice. So if we hear Him, then we must respond and be responsible for the feelings that are coming from our heart, and we need to choose correctly. When I have a bad feeling trying to land on my heart, I get to worship the Lord and I get to bring in a good attitude because I trust in Him.
I have to choose trust or distrust, and we know dis is the god of the Roman underworld, and that is not what I was meant to live from and it does not bring life. So today, I choose to have good feelings of kindheartedness, passion, and compassion — to be warm and show mercy and charity. And I choose to direct those feelings towards the people in front of me, because I know today that what I sow, I reap.
The Bible says if you have understanding, then you are more teachable. The more you yearn for it, the greater your ability is to respond, and to learn even more and get greater understanding.
So once again, I encourage you to guard your heart, for from there flow all the issues of life. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being. Pay attention. Be discerning. Notice. Because it matters, and it matters for life or death. Today, we get to choose. That’s the option God has given us, so choose well.
I choose today to have feelings that have quality. This is the highest quality of human existence: to be grateful, for God is good.
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