“It is easier to act my way into a feeling than to feel my way into an action.”

A thought by Rick Warren from his book. God's Power to Change Your Life (Living with Purpose) (p. 55). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

And that is what we want, isn’t it?  We want the easier way.

Rick says, “If I act as if I’m enthusiastic, I will soon begin to feel enthusiastic. If I act as if I’m happy, before you know it I will feel happy. Try right now putting the biggest smile on your face that you can muster up; then make yourself laugh — really laugh inside. At first it will seem forced, but dig deep and create the body movement of laughter. You will begin to feel happier. If we begin to act lovingly, we will soon feel loving.”

That is so true.  I wonder how that person at work or that relative you will see during the holiday season would respond if you began to act lovingly toward them rather than the way you feel about them?  You might say that is dishonest.  No that is the way that Jesus would want you to treat them and the way he treated you when you had rejected him.

But you might ask, how do I act in a loving way?  Well, Jesus over in Luke 6:27-28 (NIV) gives us four specific commands.  He says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”    

Rick says, “First, Jesus commands us to love our enemies.”  Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) says, “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

Rick says, “He then commands us to do good.  How do we do good to people that we don’t even like?  We look for ways to give to them.  What can we do to serve them, meet their needs, help them, and benefit them?”

Rick then says, “Jesus says to bless those who curse us.  What does he mean by that?  He is referring to the way we talk about and talk to those who treat us badly.  A blessing is a positive word spoken to or about others.”

Then finally Rick says, “Jesus commands us to pray for those who mistreat us.  Praying for people will not only change them but also change us.  So how should we pray?  We pray that God will bless people who are mistreating us because the goodness of God leads to repentance.  Perhaps God will bless these people so much that they will want to change.  But even if they don’t change right away, praying for them will change our attitude toward them.

“What this all means is that love is an action.”  And “It is easier to act my way into a feeling than to feel my way into an action.”  So let’s strive to do what God has commanded us to do especially at this time when we are celebrating His love for us.  Let's do that?  

Yes, yes!