Does God control every thought and feeling

[prayit]

Hi I have a question of whether not God controls our every thought feeling like a light switch, for example what if someone was depressed and negative thoughts for years and then one day out of nowhere woke up feeling great. Did God change his/her thoughts and feelings or was it something they did?

 

[Lief_Erikson]

God can put negative or positive feelings and thoughts into our minds. That doesn’t mean all our thoughts and feelings come straight from Him, but He can do this. Whenever He does this for us, it is for our own good. He loves all humans.

All the good and evil things that happen to us are things that God permits to happen to us, or (the good things) sometimes directly causes to happen. Thus we should thank the Lord in everything, even when something bad is happening, because God permits it to help us spiritually grow into better people. It’s when our characters are tested that we really grow. God works in all things for our good.

You should definitely thank the Lord if you’ve been going through a dark time but have just come out, or are experiencing peace! For this comes from Him, as all good does, and He should be thanked!

 

[Edward_H]

God gives us god-like powers…free will. Our feelings are ours, to experience, to master, to control, or not. Emotion itself is a good thing…God created our ability to experience emotions. So is our will. God doesn’t control either. His Will dominates one way / one path or another. If we close our heart to His will…it’ll get done another way.

We need to self-master over the course of our lifetime our emotions. The will needs to become dominant so that we can will ourselves to love (to give, to self-donate, to suffer for others, to freely and even cheerfully give away our time, efforts for others, FOR HIM) whether we “feel like it” or when we “don’t feel like it”. Beyond that, we need to make our will correspond with HIS will. This is the lifelong pursuit and struggle for holiness. It ain’t easy but God is with us in our struggle, ever step.

A priest once very helpfully told me…"feelings are like dogs…they are good things…because God made them…but they need an owner ; otherwise they make messes wherever they go."

 

[Garyjohn2]

no, God does not control thoughts and feelings. He can help us overcome negative ones though. Also, thinking of God can naturally promote positive thoughts and feelings. This is just His nature I think, but not his controlling.

 

[prayit]

all are good responses thank you, but I was just wondering this, because I have been dating this girl for about 2 months now and all of a sudden i have been getting these negative thoughts in head, like ones telling i will never be good enough for her or i will never make her happy and this causes much pain and anxiety. Is this Gods way of saying we are not supposed to be together? does God play matchmaker?

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Oh gosh . . . no, that is not God. God does not pummel people with fear tactics. He does nothing to tear us down. He only builds us up according to our needs (Eph. 4:29). God can act as a matchmaker, as in the Biblical story where God led Isaac’s servant to Rebekah and brought her and Isaac together. We should always pray about wedding plans, or any big plans in our lives. Those kinds of fears you’re going through have nothing to do with God, though. He does not bludgeon people; He lifts them up with mercy. He brings peace, not fear, unless it’s fear that leads to awareness of real sins in our lives and thus leads to repentance, transformation and peace. If He causes fear, it’s a healthy fear that draws us away from sin and into holiness and peace. It is not harsh negativism like you’re feeling.

God’s Spirit is also highly rational. If He was going to put down a prospective marriage plan, He would give you very solid reasons for calling it off. He wouldn’t give you a really bad feeling, sweeping criticisms against your character, and awful feelings of anxiety and pain. All of these experiences are completely unlike God’s beautiful voice.