If you wait until the feeling is right to begin living intentionally, it won’t happen. Godly thinking and daily action come before feelings, not after.

Corrie Ten Boom, who survived a Nazi concentration camp, had a remarkable encounter following the war. Visiting a church in Munich, she was approached by a former camp guard who had become a Christian and asked Corrie for forgiveness.

It was perhaps the most difficult thing she ever faced, and she didn’t want to do it. But Corrie grasped the guard’s hand and said, “I forgive you, brother…with all my heart!” She later said she had never known God’s love so intensely as she did at that moment.

Changing your emotions is an act of the will. It begins with your mind and is followed by action.

Scripture gives you clear guidelines on how to grow and develop in this important area. Here are three things you can do develop healthy emotions:

• Saturate your mind with Scripture daily to be equipped for good work. (2 Timothy 3: 16,17)
• When you are overwhelmed by emotions, pray – just as Jesus did at Gethsemane. (Mark 14: 32-36) 
• When you feel anxious, be thankful anyway! (Philippians 4:6)

Intentional living is a balance of thinking, feeling and doing. You will experience greater peace, purpose and passion when what you think, feel and do line up with God’s Word.

Tell Us

What jump starts your intentional life? How do you get started on the changes that you’d like for your life? We’d love to hear from you. Post your comments below.