I PLANT BY FAITH NOT BY FEELINGS.

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. Psalm 126:5-6

If farmers only planted when they felt like it, we would all starve to death. Sometimes we need to plant good things, even when we don’t feel like it. If you did only what you felt like doing today, what would your day be like? If you acted on every feeling or desire, there are things you would do that would get you in a lot of trouble. And there are things that you should do, but didn’t do simply because you didn’t feel like it. Feelings are one of God’s best gifts to us. But, sometimes they can mislead us. Hebrews 11 lists numerous people in days of old who lived by faith, not by their feelings. Abraham probably didn’t feel like leaving everything familiar in order to go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise (Hebrews 11:11). Sarah was 90 when she had a baby. How do you think she felt about that? Noah probably didn’t feel like building an ark on his front lawn in full view of all of the neighbors who mockingly criticized him. But, By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family (Hebrews 11:7). If you only served when you felt like it, we would all tend towards a self-centered life. If you only gave when you felt like being generous, you would end up as a stingy person. If you were only kind when you felt like being kind, we would live in a very grumpy world. God will call us to do all kinds of things we don’t feel like doing at the time. But if we act in faith, like Abraham, Sarah and Noah we will get in on the best things that God has in mind for us. What do you need to plant today, in faith, no matter how you feel about it?  

1. What did you hear? What did God say to you as you read today’s Scripture and Devotion?
2. What do you think? How does it apply to your life?
3. What will you do? Don’t just be a hearer of the word. Be a doer of the word. (James 1:22)
4. Now Talk To God: This is where you turn your thoughts into prayer. It could be a prayer of gratitude or praise. It could be a prayer of confession or a request for God’s help. Take a minute to write a prayer of response.