Dear Ones, Happy weekend to you!! The snow is almost all gone again and it seems like Spring is around the corner. Last night Al and I went to a movie at the nearby theater. A friend recommended, “The Great Awakening.” about George Whitfield and Benjamin Franklin based on a true story. What a powerful story and a reminder to be praying for an awakening in our country.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Many of us are liars: even though we may not intentionally tell lies to others, we may lie to ourselves. We fail to admit when we are angry, sad, and fearful, putting on a good face and remaining silent about how our heart is feeling. When we don’t deal with what is going on within us, we are really lying to ourselves that all is well.

It is important for all of us to own our feelings, or we will project them on others who may have no idea why they are blamed for not knowing what is wrong. It doesn’t help that many feel their church friends would view them as unspiritual if they confessed to such feelings of depression, anger, anxiety, etc. So emotions are kept inside and not dealt with. How much better to have good Chrisitan mates and friends that we can be honest with and share our struggles, admitting what is going on inside of us without judging and helping us deal with those things!

We can lie to ourselves only so long before we can’t stuff things anymore and we miss the joy of being alive emotionally. The deeper we are willing to go with the Lord, the more we are able to embrace our emotions and process them. Really, they are gifts from the Lord, like a warning light on our dash that tells us something needs attention. We may feel angry when our boundaries are violated, or frustrated when we said yes to something to which we know we should have said a simple no. Sometimes our anger is a sign that we feel inadequate or not good enough, or have unrealistic expectations that haven’t been met. The warning light goes on within us and we can ask the Lord to take us to the source of our problem. Let us not keep covering over our feelings, but ask the Lord to help us honestly admit and process them, giving it all to Him that He may transform us to be more like Him.

Challenge for today: Stop lying and be willing to deal with your feelings and emotions as you claim Phil 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy