I’m in a flat spot in my faith.

It may be that my lack of “feeling” of God’s presence as it comes and goes creates this. A few years ago, I read several books on prayer and was surprised at how many faith-filled authors had droughts in their prayer lives.

Having experienced and received some deliverance from a health challenge recently, it is surprising and disappointing to me that my sensing of his presence is not greater.

I love my wife and my kids and grandkids, yet I don’t love everything they do. Occasionally I may get mad or upset with them. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them, but it would be if love was only a feeling. Even when I am not feeling particularly loving towards my family, my decision to love them hasn’t changed.

A great truth I hold to is:

“Love is not only a feeling but a decision”

God not only commands us to love in John 13:34-35 and Matthew 22:37-39 but also demonstrates that love is not just a feeling, as we care called to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44. Why else would we be compelled to love our enemies if it wasn’t more than a feeling but also a decision?

The ultimate example of love is the love Christ demonstrated on the cross. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Not only did we not deserve this loving action, but we were also sinners in rebellion against God and not particularly lovable. It must be that God decided to love the unlovable – you and me.

I know that God loves me – both in feeling and in decision. And he has given me the capacity to do the same – to feel and decide. I see how he saved a very unlovable me, so I can certainly decide to love him even when I don’t feel it.

And I’ll trust that just with my family, the feeling of love may return.