Just Not Feelin' It...

 Ever FEEL like morning devotions are a burden?  I had one of those this morning.  I woke up late, missed class, and immediately went to my computer to check the status of an April Fool's joke.  After I finished checking, I reasoned, "Why should I spend time with the Lord now?  I've pretty much started my day already; plus, I just don't FEEL like it."  Ah, but God pursues...

All at once I started thinking of God and His love--He surely didn't FEEL like dying on the cross for my sins (Luke 22:41-44); the love God shows me doesn't speak of Him FEELING like doing anything for me (1 Cor. 13:4-8); God didn't have a sudden notion one day, "Hmm...I FEEL like redeeming mankind today" (Ephesians 1:4).  Don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that we serve an emotionless God.  What I am saying is that God's love for us supercedes simple FEELINGS; His love is a promise.  So I decided to spend some time with the Lord, and I was blessed!

"My heart is steadfast, O God,

my heart is steadfast;

I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples."

- Psalm 57:7-9

David was truly in a troubling situation--on the run from Saul and hiding in a cave, David had plenty to occupy his thoughts.  With all that God was allowing him to go through while fleeing from Saul, David was quite distressed (Psalm 55:4-5; 57:4 & 6).  He didn't feel like praising God, but he didn't allow how he felt to get in the way of his relationship with God.  In the verses above, David commanded his soul to wake up as he willed himself to praise the Lord!  He reminded himself of his covenant with the Lord as he repeated, "My heart is steadfast."  The Greek used for that word is "kuwn" and it means "unwavering, established, firm, stable, securely determined."  David's love for the Lord was unwavering and established; despite how he felt.  David's relationship with God was firm and securely determined; regardless of his fluctuating FEELINGS.  What about us?  Will you and I trust our FEELINGS, which may lead us astray as our flesh continually wars against us?  Or will we trust the facts--what we know to be true as evidenced by the Word and what God has done for, in and through us in the past?

Once again, don't misunderstand the message.  I'm not going to one extreme and saying that every morning with the Lord will be a burden, nor am I saying that every morning will be like fresh manna (Exodus 16).  Some mornings I wake up and I just FEEL like getting into my Word and praising the Lord ALL DAY!  Other mornings, I wake up FEELING like I can simply coast through today by leaning on yesterday's, or last week's, time in the Word.  What's interesting is the more I give into the notion that time with the Lord is a burden, the longer I tend to go without fellowshipping with Him; which leads to me falling away in my walk.  Instead, when those rough times come, we have to fight through it!  Anyone can vibe with the Lord when they FEEL like it, but who is willing to do it when it requires a little work?

Some may read of how David willed himself to praise and conclude that his relationship appears forced.  If He had to will himself to spend time with the Lord every single day of his life, I'd probably conclude the same thing.  However, that's putting a lot of emphasis on David and ignoring a very significant factor:  God.  Who honestly believes that God will watch a person fighting through what they FEEL day after day just to spend time with Him, while NEVER providing any relief or support?  Surely not!  God is not unjust; He doesn't ignore our feeble efforts to spend time with Him, just as He doesn't ignore our efforts when we're "in the zone."  Rather, God blesses our meager efforts, for in them, He sees our true desires.  He blessed David's faithfulness (as evidenced by the rest of David's life), and God will do the same for you and I.