Session 6 - Encountering and Partnering with God Through Feelings

From “Wisdom for Weird and Wonderful God Encounters,” Session 6

🎧 Listen to the full session here:

Every month, we gather for Wisdom for a Weird and Wonderful God Encounters, a space where people who are prophetic, curious, or simply hungry for God encounters can come together and grow. Some in the room have had powerful encounters with the Lord, and others are just learning what that even means. Either way, it is a safe place to ask questions, share experiences, and learn how to walk with the Holy Spirit in real, everyday life.

Last month, in Session 5, we talked about the language of the Spirit through parables. Jesus used parables to hide truth from pride and reveal it to the hungry, so we practiced listening beneath the surface for the life of God. This month, in Session 6, we stayed with the same theme of language, but we focused on a channel everyone carries: our feelings.

God speaks in the place of our feelings

Because we are made in the image and likeness of God, we are designed to perceive Him. We can see, hear, and also feel. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That is the steady outcome of walking with Him. But what do we do with feelings that do not feel peaceful or joyful in the moment?

The Bible gives permission to notice those feelings without shame. “Be angry and do not sin” tells us that strong emotions can surface without becoming disobedience. David prayed through grief, despair, and fear, and met God in the middle of them. Negative feelings are not automatically evil. They are invitations to discern.

So how do we tell the difference? Paul gives us a clear grid in Galatians 5. If a feeling pulls us toward the works of the flesh, such as rivalry, division, impurity, or control, we refuse it and return to the Spirit. If a feeling does not pull us that way, we can ask, “Lord, where are You in this, and what is my next faithful step?” In other words, our emotions become a dashboard, not a driver. We check the gauges, then follow the Spirit.

From burden bearing to burden breaking

Many believers talk about “carrying” burdens in prayer. In this session I shared why I prefer “burden breaking.” Jesus carried the full weight at the cross. We do not soak up darkness. We notice what we feel, we ask the Lord what to do, we pray or act until His peace returns, and we let Him break the yoke.

Here are three stories that show what that can look like.

Life group nudge.
After a normal night with our group, my wife said, “Something is wrong.” No blame, only a shared unease. We sat down and prayed for our people and our family until the peace of Jesus settled back in the house. No dramatic proof followed, but that is not the point. We moved from unrest back to life with Him.

Night fear and authority.
For years I would wake with a heavy fear, as if danger was in the yard. One night the Holy Spirit made it clear. This was not normal anxiety. It was a spirit of fear. In Jesus’ name I told it to leave. The cycle broke. On the rare times it tries to return, I recognize it and refuse it. Our feelings can alert us to what must be resisted, not received.

The Twin Peaks agitation.
One day a strong agitation built that I could not shake. I changed locations, it only grew. I sensed I should drive across the road and when I arrived my attention fixed on a nearby restaurant. I lifted my hands and prayed, “What is hidden, let it be revealed. What is concealed, bring it into the open. In Jesus’ name, this assignment ends here.” The burden lifted at once.

Within roughly 24 -48 hours hours, news broke: a violent shootout had erupted at that Twin Peaks on May 17, 2015, leaving nine dead and about 18 injured, with 177 people arrested at the scene. In the days that followed, authorities reported recovering hundreds of weapons, and Twin Peaks’ corporate office revoked the Waco franchise and announced the location would not reopen. I do not claim the outcome as mine. Many believers pray for our city. I do believe the Lord used that unrest to position a simple act of faith.

Learning to discern without being ruled by emotion

Sensitivity never gives permission to interrupt, accuse, or take control. Self-control is fruit of the Spirit. Here is a simple way to practice discernment.

1. Notice. Name what you feel without judging yourself.

2. Ask. “Holy Spirit, is this mine to carry, or mine to pray through and release?”

3. Act. Take the next small obedient step that moves the moment toward love, peace, or wholeness.

4. Release. Thank God for leadership, then let Him hold the outcome.

I also shared a few anchors that consistently help me, especially after a long history with anxiety and sensory load. Tend your body with rest, movement, and simple food. Pray in the Spirit, which has strengthened me again and again. Keep a small circle you can text for prayer. Often the weight lifts after one faithful step.

Scatter the seed, trust the Lord

We closed by remembering the sower. All the seed is good. Not every soil is ready. My part is to scatter good seed through prayer, blessing, and obedience. I do not need to collect proof to make it count. I need to be faithful to the voice of Jesus and let Him handle the harvest.

If this resonates with you, I think you will enjoy the full conversation. We go deeper into the biblical grid, the difference between personal emotion and spiritual atmospheres, and how to rule your gift rather than letting your gift rule you.

🎧 Listen to Session 6 here: