The Interrelation of Thoughts and Feelings
Author: Romeo Pelle
The Interrelation of Thoughts and Feelings
“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
Proverbs 23:7
We’ve learned that the ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow our minds to dwell upon. Thoughts determine the orientation of everything we do and evoke the feelings that frame our world and motivate our actions. It is because of this fact that we always remain responsible before God regarding our inner thought life, our attitudes, our judgments, our feelings, and our behavior.
Remember: “A thought has the potential to become an act; a repeated act has the potential to become a habit; our habits have the potential to decide our destiny.” (Anonymous / Popular Wisdom)
We’ll analyze the interplay between human thoughts & human feelings & human actions by watching sections of the movie “Fireproof.”
- Observe the spoken thoughts and ideas, note how they influence peoples’ feelings and how the combination of thoughts and feelings drive peoples’ actions.
- Analyze how peoples’ WRONG perceptions of reality modify their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
- Enjoy the movie!!!
SELECTION 1. – Please catch the idea: “You never leave your partner, especially in a fire!” and its applications throughout the movie.
SELECTION 2. – THE FIGHT IN KITCHEN – Note ideas, thoughts, expectations, feelings, actions and reactions.
SELECTION 3. – AT THE GYM – Observe the ideas Caleb and Michael exchange – Positive OR Negative thoughts input?
- “How that I get respect everywhere I go … except in my own house?”
- “A woman is like a rose: if you treat her right, she’ll bloom; if you don’t, she’ll wilt…”
SELECTION 4. - LUNCH – Observe the ideas Catherine and her co-workers exchange – Positive OR Negative thoughts?
- “You gotta get out …”
- “He doesn’t deserve you…”
- “I feel like we are totally incompatible …”
- Catherine’s assertion: “He’s the problem, not me…”
SELECTION 6. - Caleb’s father – Positive OR Negative input – Challenge “LOVE DARE”
- Dr. Gavin – Positive OR Negative input?
SELECTION 7 – Michael’s inputs – Positive OR Negative input?
- The ring means “a lifelong covenant.”
- “When most people promise for better or worse … they really only mean for the better!”
- “Fireproof doesn’t mean that fire will never come, but that when it comes you’ll be able to withstand it.”
- “Salt and pepper” illustration – “If you pull them apart you’ll break either one or both of them!”
- “I saw you running into a building to save people you don’t even know. But you are gonna let your own marriage just burn to the ground.”
- Caleb’s assertion: “I’m not a perfect person, but better than most. And if my marriage is failing, it’s not all my fault!”
SELECTION 8 – THE LOVE DARE
DAY 1 – “Choose to say nothing negative” James 1:19: “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
DAY 2 – “Love is not based on feelings.”
DAY 3 – “Whatever you put your time, energy and money into, will become more important to you. It’s hard to care for something you are not investing in.”
SELECTION 9 – DAY 4 – CALEB’S DOING THE DARE AS A CHORE
- CATHERINE ASKS HER COWORKERS FOR ADVICE – POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE INPUT?
SELECTION 10 – CONFRONTED ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY –
- CALEB’S DAD – “You are not a quitter… And something tells me you are doing just enough to get by!” LIKE SOME OF US IN OUR “CHRISTIAN” WALK!!!
- “I feel nothing!”
- “I understand … but this is not based on feelings; IT’S A DECISION!”
SELECTION 11 – “This is when it gets hard… You can’t listen to the way you feel at the moment!”
SELECTION 12 – “I AM A GOOD PERSON.” “How am I supposed to show love to someone over and over to someone who constantly reject me?”
SELECTION 13 – “Up to this point my heart hasn’t been in it” / “That’s what matters: A woman can tell when you’re just going through the motions!”
- “Don’t just follow your heart because your heart can be deceived. You gotta lead your heart”
SELECTION 15 – PORNOGRAPHY TEMPTATION – “Why is this so hard?”
DAY 23 – “Watch out for parasites. A parasite is anything that latches onto you or your partner and sucks the life out of you … They are in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more of your thoughts, time and money. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love.”
SELECTION 19 – “I have learned that you never leave your partner, especially in a fire!”
- “Half way I realized that I didn’t know what love was!”
TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT – ANALYZE AND CONTROL YOUR THOUGHT LIFE
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:4
“But we have the mind of Christ, and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 (The Amplified Bible)
“Sanctify them by the truth; YOUR WORD IS THE TRUTH.” – Jesus (In Gospel of John ch.17:17)
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 2:5 (KJV)
THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN CHRIST IS ONE OF PROGRESSIVELY REPLACING DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS, IMAGES, AND IDEAS WITH THE THOUGHTS, IMAGES, AND IDEAS THAT FILLED THE MIND OF JESUS HIMSELF!
NOTHING ENTERS THE MIND WITHOUT HAVING AN EFFECT FOR GOOD OR EVIL. IT IS A GREAT DANGER TO ALLOW ANY KIND OF IMAGES TO ENTER OUR MIND! IF GOD’S EYES “ARE TOO PURE TO BEHOLD EVIL” (HABAKKUK 1:13), WE HAD BETTER THINK IT MIGHT BE WISE FOR US TO LOOK AWAY AS MUCH AS IS FEASIBLE – EVEN IF IT’S CALLED “ENTERTAINMENT.” WE ARE TO ABHOR EVIL AND CLEAVE TO WHAT IS GOOD!
MAY GOD HELP ALL OF US!
