Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ~John 15:4~

Feelings are the fruit of what is going on inside us. Perhaps they are better described as evidence of the condition of our hearts. When we hear a negative report, a feeling of fear, shame, or regret may arise from within us. This is evidence of the condition of our hearts. When we have thankful hearts, even in the face of bad news, we react differently than if our hearts are darkened with pride. When we can see our feelings as nothing more than the fruit of our hearts, we can begin to control them instead of allowing them to control us. As someone so wisely said, "We don't do what we do because of the way we feel, but we feel the way we feel because we do what we do." By changing what we do, it is possible to change the way we feel. When we change what we allow into our spirits, our feelings change. But it is futile to try to change our feelings by working on the feeling itself -as futile as trying to make an orange out of an apple.

The work of the Spirit in our lives will be shown by the fruit that follows: feelings of love, joy, and peace. Don't think you can simply say, "I have to start being less discouraged," and cause changes in your feelings. Instead, allow the Spirit to work in your life by being grateful, by carrying out Christ's love in giving and sharing, and you will reap a bountiful harvest of good feelings.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on my heart today. I give You full authority over my life. Create in me a clean heart and give me a willingness to do Your work in the earth. I know that as my heart is refreshed by Your love and refilled with Your will, it will become confident and hopeful of the new possibilities You can work in me.

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