'Our emotions tend to be raised by our five senses: things we can see, touch, taste, feel and smell. Our senses affect us more directly than unseen things and raise an emotional response. This is why I can be so affected by a film - I hear the dialogue, I see the expressions, I'm aware of the music. But here's the point: we can't use those senses on the truths of the gospel.
That is not to say we can't be affected by those truths we can't see. God's Spirit makes them real to us, bringing us an awareness of sin, confidence in the gospel, knowledge of God's love. These things are real to us, but they are real by faith.
That is why it is easier to feel rightly for concrete situations around us than for spiritual truths. We can see and touch the physical situations. We can't see or touch the spiritual reality.
This is why we will always have to work at reminding ourselves of truths about God and feeling rightly in the light of them. When we actually see something, the feelings usually flow by themselves.
If you stand in front of the Grand Canyon, you will feel enormous awe and wonder. But you will have to remind yourself of God's majesty and awe in order to feel awe about him.
If you are treated kindly by someone when you don't deserve it, you will feel gratitude. But you will have to remind yourself of God's kindness to feel grateful to him.
If you look at a beautiful jewel, painting, car or house (whatever it is for you), you will easily feel a great desire for it. But you will have to remind yourself of God's beauty in order to desire him above all else.
This explains why right feelings are a battle.'
Graham Beynon, Emotions, p.161.
