“A great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings.”

A thought by Dallas Willard (2014-02-01) from his book, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ (p. 35). NavPress. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Today is Friday the 13^th. It is another Friday that just happens to land on February 13. It is just another day but not to some people. Because of what they have heard bad things happen on this day and they have started this day with deep fear. I know something bad is going to happen to me because it is Friday the 13^th.

Here is another thought. I am right now writing this at the Starbucks in Downtown Disney just outside of Disneyland, Happiest Place in the World. People are walking into Disneyland knowing that it is going to make a difference. They are going to be happy. They know they are. They just feel it. But what happens when they walk out after spending all that money and the unhappy life they have is still there and they are poorer. But so much of our life today is “organized around feelings. And I don’t want to talk about tomorrow, Valentines Day.

Dallas says, “Life must be organized by the will if it is to be organized at all. It can only be pulled together ‘from the inside.’ That is the function of the will or heart: to organize our life as a whole, and, indeed, to organize it around God. And of course life must be organized, and organized well, if one’s existence is to be even fairly tolerable to one’s self or those around. Every civilization of any type has recognized this. A great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings. People nearly always act on their feelings, and think it only right. The will is then left at the mercy of circumstances that evoke feelings. Christian spiritual formation today must squarely confront this fact and overcome it.”

Feelings are great but just by themselves they have no power. They can change in just a moment. No way do we let them have control of our life but so many people do. Let God and his Word have control. Even when things feel bad he can bring good out of them. As Proverbs 3:6-7 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to own understand, in all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.” Now feelings but him.

So what is going to control your day?

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