There is a debate among some people about whether feelings or faith come first. Some people teach that we only feel emotions after we have consented to the truth intellectually. However, we often experience emotions that seem disconnected from what we know to be true. This is one of the ways that humans differ from God. God is very simple: what He says is accomplished. He gives us promises, and the trouble and complications that come with actually experiencing those promises are always our problem. So God has ordered our salvation in such a way that it is dependent on Him alone. The total experience is one of God pursuing us.The idea of salvation is often compared to a mixed drink, in that it is something that can be enjoyed and savored. Just as the wicked are said to be given a mixture of worldly pleasure and success that they can enjoy for a short time, those who experience salvation will also enjoy a taste of God's blessings. However, while the wicked are actually drinking in judgement and destruction, those who experience salvation are drinking in eternal life and blessings. Therefore, it is important not only to know the clear division between good and evil in this world, but also to support and encourage God's work in the world.The complete efficacy of God's salvation is always demonstrated to us through His grace. This salvation can never be thwarted, and we experience it as a result of the faith we have in Him, rather than in ourselves. We long to know His power and love more deeply, understanding that it surpasses anything we could achieve on our own. Salvation is like a battle; we have been given all the spiritual tools we need to fight, and the more we use them, the more we will live in a way that is pleasing to God and in touch with our true feelings.The idea of salvation is often thought of in terms of a journey or ascent, from the lower, more difficult experiences of life to the higher, more joyful ones. However, this view ignores the role that pain and suffering can play in our relationship with God. Instead of seeing these experiences as a curse to be pushed away, we should view them as a gift that can help us to grow closer to God. Through grief and pain, we can come to God with anger and frustration, and He will consume these negative emotions in us, helping to create judgement and bring about a glorious future kingdom. In this way, God turns the bottom experiences in this world upside down, and we fight as He consumes our hate.We have been saved and brought into full acceptance before the Most High God. The highest authority on this earth is beyond our understanding of justice, but it is where God makes all things good for us. We ascend in prayer to experience this goodness that is beyond our present circumstances. This is what the Psalmist describes as looking upon the glory of Christ and having that light shine in our face. This light always reflects the true image of ourselves. It is a supernatural transformation that produces a spiritual understanding in us in which we experience His power that comes up from the deep recesses of our souls.The soul is often compared to deep, unknowable waters. We cannot fully understand this illuminated reality, but we can experience it. It is like the word of God's salvation, a message of trust and hope that fills our soul. We experience God speaking to us, conveying all the effervescence of His goodness. This goodness fills our souls and gives us the ability to see beyond our troubles. This is what David describes as ascending to the hill to look down on this world.