On this Daily Devotional for March 23, The Choice to Rejoice, we’re tackling one of the trickiest parts of the human experience: the gap between how we feel and what we know to be true. Let’s look at how to find our voice when the “emotional weather” is looking a bit stormy.
The Choice to Rejoice – Daily Devotional for March 23
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:1 (NASB)
When Feelings Don’t Match Facts
Let’s be honest: when you’re staring down a mountain of stress, dealing with a sharp disappointment, or feeling the fog of confusion, “Praise the Lord” isn’t usually the first phrase that pops into your head.
Our emotions are powerful, but they are also incredibly fickle. They change based on how much sleep we got, what someone said to us, or even what we had for lunch.
If we wait until we feel like praising God, we might be waiting a very long time. But praise isn’t a response to a mood; it’s a response to a Reality. God is much bigger than your current circumstance. He hasn’t moved, He hasn’t changed, and He hasn’t forsaken you.
Don’t Let Your Feelings Drive
You don’t have to speak according to how you feel. You can acknowledge a feeling (“I feel overwhelmed”) without letting it dictate your direction. Think of your emotions like passengers in a car: they can come along for the ride, but you should never let them take the wheel.
When you choose to speak God’s Word in spite of your feelings, you are engaging in spiritual warfare. You are telling your soul what the truth is, rather than letting your soul tell you what the “truth” is.
Devotional for every day: Daily Devotional
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, I admit that my feelings are all over the place today. I feel the weight of my circumstances, but I refuse to let them silence my praise. Today, I choose to bless You. I praise You for Your faithfulness and Your power that is greater than any problem I face. Help me to speak Your Word over my situation until my heart catches up with the truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
To You
Try a “Praise Reset” today. Set a timer for three minutes. Even if you feel discouraged, spend those three minutes speaking out loud things you know are true about God (e.g., “Lord, You are my provider,” “You are my peace”). Notice how your internal “atmosphere” shifts when you stop talking about your problems and start talking to your God.
