God or Your Emotions, Who's In Control?

God has given us the ability to feel emotions. It is what makes us feel alive. However, we must not allow our emotions to control us. Rather, we must submit our emotions to the Lordship of Christ and let the truth of God’s Word be our guide.

God created humanity with an amazing emotional capacity. The Book of Psalms records the emotional rollercoaster ride of King David, the man after God’s own heart.  He feels deeply. And at times, his feelings lead him astray. But somewhere along this journey, David discovered that his emotions where only part of his total being. The emotional aspect of our being coexists with our intellectual, physical and spiritual aspects. Every person will build the foundation of his or her life upon one of these four foundations: the emotional, the intellectual, the physical, or the spiritual. And among those foundations, feelings are important but they are not the most important because you are not your feelings. But you are a spiritual being.  The Apostle Paul tells us in the Word of God; "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law" (Gal. 5:16-18).

The dangers of building our lives on our feelings is; feelings can be distorted. The enemy likes to manipulate our circumstances and our senses in an attempt to throw us off balance. Also, feelings can be imported. Sometimes we have a way of feeling what has been forced on us rather what is truly within us. And, feelings can be aborted; they can change in a moment. The danger of building our lives on our feelings is that we may not feel the same way about a situation tomorrow as we feel today.  That is why it's so import for us to guard our hearts and minds.  We must renew our minds with the Word of God daily, and keep our emotions from running away and conforming us to this world?

Feelings come and go. As Christians, the way we must deal with our feelings is by choosing to believe God’s Word over what we hear, feel, or even experience. The only way to know if an emotion is healthy or unhealthy is if it lines up with the Word of God.  We must take our thoughts and emotions captive, because emotions will lie!  But the truth of God's Word speaks to those unhealthy issues and areas in life.

Meditate on:
Philippians 4:6-9
Romans 12:2
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Ephesians 6:13-18

The Word of God sheds light on all darkness.  Walk in the light (the truth) of God's Word.

Be Blessed!

A Sovereign God

This past week, I got a true understanding of my Sovereign God.  My nineteen year old cousin died, and we buried him on Saturday.  He was an awesome 3.8 student, working for a 4.0 at Lindsey Wilson College.  He was on the wrestling team, and he was a mighty man of God.  I am still numb from his death, but I have learned the true meaning of God being sovereign.  I don't like it, nor do I completely understand it.  But I trust God's sovereignty any how.

In His sovereignty, God knows what He is doing, and I can joyfully submit to His decisions.  In His sovereignty, God is in control of everything at all times, and nothing takes Him by surprise.  Chronicles 29:11-12 says; ^"Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all".

As I study the sovereignty of God, I now truly understand His supremacy.  That He is God, elevated infinitely above the highest creature, that He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth.  , That means He is subject to no one, influenced by no one and is absolutely independent.  He does as He pleases, when He pleases, and no on can thwart Him or hinder Him.  My God is absolute Sovereign.

I may not understand everything or even agree with everything He does.  But I submit to Him anyway, because He is God and I trust Him even when I disagree, or it hurts, or even when it doesn't make sense to me.  According to Isa. 46:10, He says, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." Then He says again in Dan. 4:35, "He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

So I will "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto my own understanding.  But in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths"  Proverbs 3:5-6.  God is my creature, so I seek to do His will and His way.  I can't afford to do it any other way.  I serve a Mighty and Sovereign God.  Who do you serve?

Be blessed!

My Worth Is In Christ Jesus

So many people suffer with a spiritual identity crises.  They tend to measure their worth by comparing themselves to others.  They will think more highly of themselves because they enjoy greater abilities, intelligence, status or wealth.  Or they look down on themselves and envy others because they feel they are not as capable, smart, powerful, or rich.

This is a deadly disease to a believer.  That is why Paul offered an antidote over in the book of Romans.  To see ourselves not as we stack up to others, or as others evaluate us, but as God sees us (Romans 12:3).   My worth is found in Christ alone.  It is only by the grace of God, I am who I am today (1 Corinthians 15:10).  And despite my past, I am a new creature with a new identity in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

I thank God for the degrees I have, and the professional credentials, but more importantly, I thank God for His power, because it gives me everything I need to live my life and pursue godliness (1 Peter 1:3).  Everything I have; family, friends, possessions, health, all comes from my heavenly Father (Job 1:21).  Knowing this, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).  I am "fearfully and wonderfully" made (Psalm 139:14).  In Christ, I have my true identity, apart from Him, I am nothing (John 15:5).

So I don't have to compare myself to anyone, because I find my worth in Christ.  Do you suffer with an identity crises, low self-worth, comparison issues?  Learn to see yourself as God sees you.

Be blessed!

Reconciliation

When I think about the word reconciliation, I think to restore a relationship, or to be reestablished in the relationship.  In recent conversations, I asked different individuals if their best friend lied on them, could they reconcile the relationship.  Five of the ten people said it depended on what the lie was.  Three said yes, they would try to reconcile the relationship, and two said absolutely not.  All of these individuals where Christians.  So I went back to the same ten people and asked them if  their spouse committed infidelity, could their marriage be reconciled?  Well, all ten people said " Hell NO"!  Again, I reiterate, these ten people where Christians.  So, it grieved my spirit.

To have your best friend lie on you would be a very hurtful thing to happen.  To have your spouse cheat on you is even more hurtful.  It's devastating, horrific, rocks you to your enter core!  Yes, reconciliation would be very difficult, and impossible on your own.  BUT!  I bless the Lord, for the but.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself, through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation"
(2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

So, as a believer, how can I not work to reconcile a relationship or a marriage.  I'm not saying that it is going to be an easy thing to do.  Again, on my own, it would be impossible.  But, I am of God, and greater is He in me, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).  So I have Jesus in me, and because of His work on the cross, I have the ministry of reconciliation.  I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus with a new character, so "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37).

I have new traits with my new character in Christ:
1 Corinthians 13:3-8: Love... suffers long, is kind, does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks not evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).  God is love!
Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit... love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law... If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:23, 25).
Philippians 4:8: Meditate on whatever things are... true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of any virtue, praiseworthy.  The things which you learned, received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).
Colossians 3:12-16: Put on these things... tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (patience), bear with one another, forgive one another, above all, put on love.  Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.  Be thankful.  Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.  Teach and admonish one another.  Sing with grace in your hearts.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

If you are in Christ, you are a new creature in Him.  The old habits and character traits that marked your life before Christ are passing away.  He is making you entirely new (see 2 Corinthians 5:15).  You have a new identity in Christ (see Ephesians 1).  So, now I ask you, "Can you reconcile"?

Be blessed!