He made both

You formed the way I think and feel. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! (Psalm 139:13-14)

If you ever want to discount your feelings, don't! God made those emotions, and he knows how you will respond with them when life gets tough, sends a surprise your way, or gets you excited for something new you are about to experience. He formed the way we think AND the way we feel. In other words, he knows how we will 'interpret' the things we are experiencing. To think God doesn't know the way our brains work is a really silly belief. To imagine God doesn't want us to acknowledge our emotional responses to life's moments is also very foolish. He made both and he isn't 'put off' by how we think or what we feel. He may want to help us think a little clearer and have less fluctuation in our emotions on occasion, but he isn't surprised by either!

The way we think can be influenced by many things, including our upbringing, mentors, media, and even our very own emotions. The way we respond (our emotions) isn't easily changed sometimes until we have a change in our way of thinking. If God formed the way we think, why does our thought life need some adjustment on occasion? It is because of the 'influences' other than God that we have allowed within our lives. Although we may not want to admit it, there are times when our thoughts are just not all that accurate, let alone all that honorable. Those are the times when we need Jesus' mind to help us get things back to the way God intends for them to be within our thought life. 

Since our thoughts influence our emotions and vice-versa, it is important to evaluate anytime we have a thought that seems a bit too 'harsh' or 'unreasonable' that evokes strong emotions that are also as harsh and unreasonable. The other night my phone alerted me to an 'Emergency Call' coming in from the Alexa at my daughter's home. Those voice activated devices are quite handy that way - allowing you to alert family if you are in need, or to call emergency services for immediate help. Since I was awakened from a sound sleep, I immediately texted back and awaited a response. None came. Do you know what my mind started doing? You got it - overdrive kicked in and emotions responded right along with the thoughts of doom and gloom!

Fortunately, the emergency alert was a glitch of some kind, and nothing was wrong. There was no emergency, all was well, and I should have been able to get right back to sleep after hearing my daughter's reassurances that all was well. Did that happen? Nope! My emotions were in high gear, my thoughts were all over the board, and it took a while for me to finally put those things to rest and allow my body to get back to rest. Mind and emotions are connected - allowing God access to one will certainly affect the other. Who better to bring clarity and peace than the one who made both? Just askin...