Seeking God Regardless of Your Feelings
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
Feelings can be VERY misleading. Our feelings are based on what we believe and know at the moment. One area they can be incredibly misleading is in regards to our connection with God; especially for those who haven’t diligently sought God in truth and spirit. Feelings like God doesn’t care, He is distant, seeking Him doesn’t matter, and reading the Bible doesn’t matter. We have to fight and disregard these type of feelings when it comes to seeking God, which can be difficult. However, for those who fight through those emotions and continue to seek, they find a relationship with God far beyond their expectations, thus a life beyond their imaginations for He is life.
As in the verse above, those who do God’s commandments from their core are those who have pushed through contrary emotions and have discovered a deeper wisdom and knowledge. They’ve learned that the paths to abundant eternal life are walking in God’s ways and not their own. They’ve learned that all else is lies and deception that lead you further from what you desire instead of closer. Thus, they willing and desire to walk in God’s ways and truth and are driven to keep pushing deeper into Him.
We start out in this life following our own will, which is formulated by the world’s (culture, society, traditions, etc) concepts. From birth, we’re consumed by this world and its philosophies therefore that is what we own as truth and live by. But as we seek God in spirit and truth, we gain an altogether different understanding. We see not only the truth of God, but also the truth of our own lives and what we are truly manifesting by following our will. We start to see that when we are in “control” we manifest depravity and not the life we desire. We begin to see when God is in control of us He brings about every perfect gift and blessing.
It’s hard for people to seek God, to truly devote to seeking Him as He calls us to. We’ve been misled to believe that His paths aren’t really full of life, but hardship, depravity and loss when in reality it’s our ways that bring these afflictions. It’s all backwards. Further, we look at others who are supposedly following God and judge God and a life with Him by their lives, a HUGE mistake most of the time. Many people aren’t truly seeking and walking in God’s truth. They are following a man-made religion, not God. They don’t truly seek and therefore in lack of truth and knowing cling to their self-will of depravity.
Only when the God is truly YOUR God, meaning He is in charge and you are at rest, do you journey His paths of truth leading to abundant life, in the deepest and fullest sense. When you do, the life you live far exceeds your expectations. Eph 3:20
While most never traverse this path, because the lies they hold about God that keep them at bay, some do. Matt 22:14 For those who come to the point to dare to seek God as they feel a stirring that there is much more, they seek and continue to seek despite what they initially feel. They seek in spite of the fear of losing their lives, of losing control, and what their lives might become once they step into God’s domain. They seek regardless of not wanting to at times because they are buried in lies that a life with God is anything less than magnificent.
Those who actually do His commands, (not the religious commands governed by mere humans Matthew 15:8-9), are those who have sought and understand the Truth of God. They understand that God’s way is the only desirous way, yes desirous. And it’s actually not their own will, but God’s light and truth pouring through them as they’ve become united to God’s will by laying down their own.
I’ve traversed this journey, I fought against what I felt many times and continued to seek God. I have the before and after pictures of my life and the afters blow my mind. I know His ways are better, my life is a testimony to me.
This newness of life fuels my passion to encourage you to seek and persist in seeking. God’s gifts are like a consuming ocean, more than we could ever want. The more others have of this true life blesses my spirit all the more. There is nothing more important than seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Matthew 6:33
Seek and persist regardless of what or how you feel. It’s the path of life that’s met with much resistance in this world. Realize this conflict as you embark upon this journey. Don’t trust your feelings. Trust if you seek you will find. Meditate on God’s truth and promises. You have nothing to lose; and everything to gain. For those who persist in seeking God in His truth, there awaits in this life, unspeakable joy, purpose and blessing.
Matthew 7:13-14, 2 Peter 3:16-18
The Path Found by Few
Shrouded in a cloak of lies
Hoping in what only binds
Trusting in what won’t deliver
The deepest desires cast to a sliver
An existence governed by strife
Hoping, yet never bringing true life
It’s a faulty assumption of hope
That self-will brings what you grope
There’s a way out
Clouded by doubt
That looks like depravity
Yet holds true vitality
To walk God’s paths leaving your own
Is the only way to be full grown
To be the budding vine
Is to be enraptured with His wine
To drink from the heavenly fountain
To rise to His Holy mountain
It’s narrow and disguised
This path out of the lies
But for those who dare to walk
Enter into His sacred flock
The home of all they hold dear
A place without pain, angst or fear
Flowing streams of life abound
Watering the soul to be unbound
Now covered now garments of light
Transformed and entering endless heights
~ Rachel DiPaolo
September 7, 2011
Living Light 
September 11, 2011 at 9:08 pm
I think that is why daily prayer and reflections are essential–in overcoming the fear to walk the righteous path.
Reflection cements thought as your prayer is a powerful testimony to the message. Thanks for inspiring Rachel.
September 12, 2011 at 9:21 am
Hi Slamdunk – how true and with all the messaging that bombards us throughout the day that is contrary to God’s truth, ways and love, how important it is to take time to fill our minds with His truth, to meditate on it and engage God about it through prayer. Thanks for your comment 🙂
September 12, 2011 at 12:11 am
Thank you, Rachel, for continuing to encourage us to seek Him and His truth and Spirit, for teaching us and confirming what He is doing in our lives! God bless you as you seek Him first today!
September 12, 2011 at 9:19 am
Hi Debbie — how important to encourage each other in diligently seeking God … for God rewards those who do Hebrews 11:6. And it was a wonderful time with Him this morning … so thankful for that time and the peace. Thanks for your comment Debbie. I always love to hear from you.
September 13, 2011 at 8:06 am
Man! This is so true Rachel. The Word and the Word alone depicts reality. Our feelings are so often slaves to the world, the flesh, and the devil. As such they will only drag us down; But when we place our trust in the words of our God eventually our feelings will come in line!
September 13, 2011 at 8:54 am
Hi Jelillie – so well said. Thanks.
September 13, 2011 at 9:22 am
Sorry about those ads that were appearing in the comment section – I didn’t know about them until yesterday … hopefully no more!
September 13, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Thanks for this constant reminder of how important it is to seek God and abide with Him. There are so many things within and without that can (and try hard) to keep us from doing this. I’m glad the Word promises God’s children can overcome by His Grace.
September 15, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Hi Ruth – its a good reminder to us all as SO MANY things try to replace that time with God who is to be our first love 🙂
September 14, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Hi Rachel,
As I mentioned in my comment on your May 30th blog “Are you building the Temple”.I was greatly blessed by that article. That whet my appetite for more. I have just read through about 40 other articles on your bog, and I have to say I was also greatly blessed by many of them.I w2as particularly blessed by many of the things you wrote on the centrality of the WORD and developing a personal intimate relationship with God where we are receiving the Word directly from God. These were exceptional.
I love the fact that you have given your heart and soul to the discovery of the Father’s heartbeat in the Scripture and how you have made TRUTH the center of your life. You have communicated many of these truths from the One who is TRUTH very well.
I have a couple questions, if I may, that have arisen through reading your articles.
These questions may seem almost out of place, especially after sharing with you how blessed I was by reading so many of your articles, which I truly was. So I let me share why I am asking them before I do.
As I read through many of your articles on some key areas that God’s Word teaches, particularly articles that dealt with what the Word of God teaches about the temple of God, the Church, and what you called the Church System I was quite struck and surprised, not just by things you said, but by the absence of comment or teaching on whole passages, and instructions in the Word of God that would seem very apparent in Scripture and essential to presenting the whole counsel of God’s Word on these critical areas of teaching from His Word. .
I know that one cannot treat all of what God’s Word has to say on a subject in one blog article, or even many, for that matter. But as I read your teaching on these areas it seemed that you bypassed many passages of scripture that are critical to understanding and teaching the whole TRUTH of Scripture on the subjects you are teaching. If we reject or do not include what these passages of God’s Word teach and instruct, we are not only in danger of arriving at a partial or twisted understanding that leads to living contrary to the TRUTH, but we may teach others to do the same, which is a far more serious thing.
Because I am not certain why you bypassed these many passages, I wanted to ask a couple questions to try to help me understand your view of the Scriptures and the place that it is to have in our lives.
Do you believe that the whole of Scripture, both the Old and New Testament were given by the inspiration of God?
And do you believe that we today are to follow the teaching, the instructions and the pattern Jesus and the Apostles gave in the New Testament regarding the church?
In other Words, do you believe that the Church described by Jesus and the Apostles, and the instructions Jesus gave concerning the church, and the instructions the Apostles gave concerning the Church as to what it was to be, how it was to be built, and how it was to be structured, is what we are to build today and how we are to function today as the Church, God’s temple?
Do you believe that all ministries the Apostles describe as operating in the Body of Christ in passages like Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 12-14, Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:5, 1 Timothy 3:1-13; 1 Peter 5:1-4 are to be found in the Church and are to operate the ways these passages describe?
These passages mention many ministries and gifts that God has given to the Church (Apostles, prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, teachers to mature the saints for the work of the ministry until we all come to the unity of the faith and to maturity. (Ephesians 4:11,12)
The Word of God tells us that In the church that Jesus builds there are Elders (Shepherds/overseers) and deacons. Paul says to both Timothy and Titus ( Both Titus and Timothy were instructed by Paul to “appoint Elders in EVERY town” who must meet certain qualifications before they can be set in. (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5)
Titus 1:5-9 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
There are many passages that talk about the authority, responsibilities and the accountability to God that Elders have. (1 Peter 5:1-4, 1 Timothy 5:17, Acts 20:28-29, Hebrews 13:7, 17)
Acts 20:17, 28-29 “28 “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church….Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood”.
In this passage it says the Holy Spirit made the Elders overseers.
Where in your teaching of God’s Temple, His body, the Church do these ministries fit?
And many other gifts that operate in the body like:Rom 12:5-8 “so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
There are many terms and descriptions in the Scripture that describe the Church that Jesus builds as an “ekklesia” (an assembly), as many people who are “built together” to become a temple of the Spirit of God, as a body that is “tightly joined together’ with many members that cannot say to the others “I have no need of you”, as a temple that is actually built together being built together,
It is described in many places in the New Testament as real people, in real relationship with one another, with real gifts and ministries. It is also described in terms of all sizes of gatherings “meeting in the temple and house to house”. And in terms like “when the whole church comes together.”
And where do passages the following fit in your vision of the church?
Rom 15:14 Instruct one another.
Gal 5:13 Serve one another in love.
Rom 15:7 Accept one another
Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Rom 12:10 Honor one another above yourselves.
Rom 16:16 Greet one another
Eph 4:2 Bear with one another
1 Th 5:11 encourage one another
1 Th 5:11 build each other up,
Heb 10:24 spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
1 Pet 1:22 love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Pet 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another.
1 Pet 1:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1 John 1:7 have fellowship with one another
Rachel, do you believe that all these descriptions of the gifts and ministries God has built into His body and their functioning as described in the Word of God are not the teachings or ideas of man but actually the Ideas and teaching of God?
And if they are the teaching of God, and this is actually the church that Jesus builds are teaching others to build this, and to function in this, and to be tightly joined together in this? Or is your vision of the God’s Temple, and His body, the Church of Jesus Christ different than this?
One last Scripture. A heavy one:
1 Cor 3:9-17 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
Paul tells us here that EVERYONE is building, but each one of us should be very careful how he builds. Paul discribes himself as a “fellow worker with God” who “laid a foundation” to “God’s building” as “an expert builder”. He describes what He built as “God’s Temple”.
You have just heard dozens of passages above from many books in the New Testament that describe what Paul built and how and what He instructed others to build.
Rachel, are you building the Temple, the body, the church that Paul instructed others to build with all it’s ministries and functioning of all of it’s parts? Does your vision of the Body have all the parts and ministries in it that Paul says God builds into the Church of Jesus Christ? Are you teaching and instructing others toward what Paul built? Are you assembling with an “ekklesia” that has all the components that Paul says in all the passages above are in the church that Jesus builds?
Maybe the answer to these questions is “yes, Michael, I am.”
I asked these questions because what I read in your blog sounded like you have come across some very dirty bathwater under the name of “the body of Christ”, “the temple of the Holy Spirit” and “the Church of Jesus Christ”. But it sounds loudly like you may have thrown out God’s beautiful baby with that dirty bathwater.
Thoughtfully and prayfully
Mike
September 15, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Hi Mike,
I truly appreciate your words and all the verses you brought up … before we go any further I want to ask if you have diligenlty sought God’s will in regards to the church system today in prayer and in the Entire Word, especially the Old Testament prophets, major and minor? To seek with an open and willing mind and heart to learn and hear anything that the Holy Spirit might teach concerning these days we are now in, 2000 years after Christ walked the earth? To diligently seek in this area putting aside assumptions and looking at the completeness of all the Word and what it has to say like the verses you mentioned as well as the rest of the New Testament and the Old.
October 11, 2011 at 1:14 am
Hello Sister Rachel,
So glad Abba God led me here tonite 🙂
I am a “follower” now of this blog.
May God richly bless you and continue to flow thru you, in grace and power of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.
Feel free to check out my blog (hisimagenme@wordpress)…I am in moving/transition right now so haven’t posted much of “my own” stuff…but there’s plenty to read, watch…
Blessings
Lisa
October 11, 2011 at 9:11 am
Hi Lisa, thanks for your comment … I look forward to checking out your blog 🙂