Changing Feelings w/ the Eye

Sometimes life feels

• hopeless
• hard
• painful
• impossible

and our minds can become overwhelmed by the surrounding of adverse circumstances. Life to some can be an unforgiving experience. However, much of what we “feel” is produced by the focus of our attention.

What I look at has the power to generate feelings. A person can initially have no feelings concerning something but if they look at it long enough they will begin to have feelings about or for it. For example, have you been going through the day and not hungry or even thinking of food and you happen to look up and see an advertisement with a beautifully arranged meal? As you stare at it, feelings of hunger begin to erupt and you go and satisfy the craving.

What we look at determines how and what we feel as well as our desires.

Luke 9:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Notice that Jesus does not look and concentrate on the limitation of five loaves and two fishes to feed and entire crowd. Instead, he looks up and sees the possibility of God. What would have happened if he stared at the bread and fish? Feelings of hopelessness and despair would have been generated.

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
²  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 John 4:35 (KJV)
³⁵ Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Feelings and desires are what motivates us into action. It’s interesting that Jesus says for them “to lift up your eyes” which implies they were looking down and not at the harvest. Looking at themselves and their own situations robbed them of the feeling of compassion needed for the lost.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Our spiritual eye must be the dominate eye over the physical eye. Yes, we see things here in the natural, but we do not concentrate on them, but rather we focus on the spiritual. As we concentrate on the Word, faith arises in the heart and it renders the feelings of hopelessness and despair impossible to be felt. Why, by not looking at temporary things, they have no ability to generate these adverse feelings.  

If a person comes up to me and they are full of despair, hopelessness, bitterness, and unforgiveness, I will show a person who is wasting their life looking at the wrong things.

Look unto Jesus today and let him fill your heart with joy that is indescribable and filled with his presence!!
  
An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us and one is Evil. It is anger, jealously, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is Good . It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.”
The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”
The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”