Have you ever had a mood swing? Have your emotions ever flip-flopped? Mine sure have! And Naomi seems to be able to relate as well!

After Ruth meets Boaz, she goes home and tells Naomi all that has happened (see Ruth 2).

Naomi says, “Blessed be the name of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead” (Ruth 2:20)

Don’t forget, this is Naomi, who had just asked everyone to call her “Mara” which means “bitter” (Ruth 1), and she is now rejoicing!

And I’ve been there. I’ve gone from wailing to dancing. Have you?

I’ve also had moments of great faith and then fallen apart again. 😩

But we serve the merciful, unchanging, always-good God. 🙌🏻

And I’m reminded that I’m still human. My emotions are still capable of changing with my circumstances—certainly, much less than they used to before I knew Jesus, but I do believe my feelings are likely to be an issue until the day I die.

But God!

He is not man that He should change. Unlike humans, who distort the facts, break their promises, and operate in emotion, God does not change! (Mal 3:6).

His ways are always right, and true and best.

So, when our circumstances change, and we feel ourselves being consumed with emotion, IN THAT VERY MOMENT, we have to run to God and take refuge in the shadow of His wings.

But what does this practically look like in the day-to-day?

When we feel our emotions spiraling, we stop and deliberately remember God’s promises, wash our thoughts with truth, and walk forward in obedience to His commands.

The moment we go our own way, and trust our feelings over our faith, is the moment we often get ourselves in more trouble than the trouble we were worried about in the first place!

Anybody ever done that?! (Jonah sure did!) I sure have!

Friend, my heart and your heart, our emotions, are deceitful above all things. God’s Word tell us that. (Jer 17:9)

But God, “His way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:30)

And His Word “is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and DISCERNING the thoughts and intentions of the heart”. (Heb 4:12)

Did you see it? The Word discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart!

This is why we need to study the Bible every single day!

It settles us. It directs our steps.

Goodness! I used to think reading my Bible was some religious exercise, a check-box! Friend, it is our lifeline! It is how the God of the Universe speaks to His children! And we will never outgrow our need for it! I hear from ninety-year olds who tell me this!

It’s daily bread from a good God!

Open it up! Because His Words are so much better than mine!

readruth

livetruth

I so appreciate your prayers and all of you who share this page with others. May it be for His glory! I’m planning to pick back up my study of Matthew next week. I hope you’ll join me!

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