We are to lead our emotions, more so than to follow our emotions. We are commanded to FEEL a certain way. For example, when we are commanded to “Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind,” that love involves feeling a certain way. It is not simply telling us to act a certain way, but also to feel a certain way.

We see David in Psalm 57 trying to rouse up his emotions to feel what he should feel.

“They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves.
My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
Awake, o harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!”
Psalm 57:6-8

Do you think his heart was really “steadfast” when his enemies are all around him? I doubt it. He’s telling his heart to be steadfast in God. Do you think he wanted to sing and make melody when he was fleeing from king Saul? Again, I doubt it. But he’s telling his heart to know that God is in charge and therefore it should rejoice.

We are not being hypocritical when we try to manufacture certain feelings. Hypocrisy is when our inside is different from our outside. But it is our inside that is wrong. So, we are trying to get our inside (our emotions in this case) to align with our outside (Our desired state).

I go through several emotional ups and downs a day! Rather than being dictated by my emotions, I will dictate my emotions. Just like a dog on a leash. Rather than following wherever the dog would lead, I will train it go where it should go.

PH