The following article is a sermon note from the sermons preached at Hope City Church, Mangalore

Feelings vs. God’s Will

Oftentimes, feelings guide our lives. We make decisions based on how we feel in the moment. However, the right way to live is not by following our emotions but by aligning ourselves with God’s will for our lives.

Many times, we lose track of who God is in our lives. We fail, falter, and try to accomplish everything on our own. We forget that the God who created us has a plan far greater than anything we could imagine. But we stray from His path because we prioritize our feelings over His will.

The Danger of Letting Feelings Lead

If you ask a teenager about their future aspirations, they might say they want to be an entrepreneur, a social media influencer, or a doctor. Why? Because that’s what they feel is right for them.

The dictionary defines “feeling” as:
“Your emotional state or your reaction to something happening around you.”

Our emotions profoundly impact how we make decisions because they influence how we perceive information, assess risks, and prioritize choices.

• If we are fearful or anxious, we become cautious about taking risks.
• If we are excited and overconfident, we may take impulsive actions.

The God Complex

Our feelings, when combined with rational thinking, can sometimes create a God Complex—where we feel like we are in complete control of our lives, making decisions without seeking God. This is dangerous, and many fall into this trap.

Solomon’s Example
Solomon, a man who started with a close relationship with God, eventually developed a God Complex. His feelings and thoughts began to drive his decisions, leading him away from God.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 (NIV)
“I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.”

Solomon did not limit himself from anything and gave himself whatever he felt was good.

Ecclesiastes 2:1 (NIV)
“I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’ But that also proved to be meaningless.”

Eventually, he left God and never returned.

The Battle Between the Flesh and the Spirit

Your feelings can convince you that you don’t need God anymore. You begin to believe that you know what to do and that you are in control. That’s the greatest danger.

Instead, our daily prayer should be:
“Not my feelings, but Your will, O God.

God’s will often contradicts our natural inclinations:

• God’s will is that you pray and read His word every day.
  • But when the time comes, you won’t feel like it.
  • Your mind will tell you, “Just skip today; nothing will happen.”
    
• God’s will is that you attend church every Sunday.
  • But on Sunday morning, you won’t feel like going.
  • Your mind will suggest, “Just watch the online service. It’s okay to miss one Sunday.”
    
• God’s will is that you walk in a way that pleases Him.
  • But you may feel like life without God is better.
    
    Galatians 5:17 (NIV)
    “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

The Broken Cisterns

Anytime we abandon God, we turn to broken systems that cannot offer real solutions. In Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV), God says, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Modern-day prophetic movements often focus more on feelings than the Spirit of God. Biblical prophecy was meant to:
1. Call people to repentance.
2. Remind people of God’s comfort.

However, today’s prophecies are often centred on personal prosperity—career upgrades, financial success, and material wealth—rather than repentance and righteousness.

How to Align with God’s Will

1. Build a Relationship with God
   • James 4:8 (NIV) says: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
   • The closer you are to God, the easier it is to obey Him.
   • Repent, ask for forgiveness, and draw near to Him.
     
2. Be Humble
   • 2 Samuel 7:1–3 (NIV) tells the story of King David, who had a desire to build a temple for God. Nathan the prophet initially told him to go ahead, but later, God revealed that David’s son would build the temple instead. David humbly accepted God’s will.
   • Humility helps us recognize that God is the hero of our story, not us.
     
3. Have a Submissive Heart
   • Luke 22:42 (NIV) records Jesus’ prayer: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
   • Submitting to God’s will means trusting that His plans are better than ours.
     
     

Conclusion

The greatest danger in life is allowing our feelings to dictate our decisions rather than submitting to God’s will. Solomon, despite all his wisdom, fell into this trap. Many today are following their emotions instead of God’s guidance, leading to broken and unfulfilled lives.

Instead of being controlled by feelings, let us pray daily:
“Not my feelings, but Your will, O God.”

By building a relationship with God, practising humility, and having a submissive heart, we can truly walk in His divine purpose for our lives.