Emotions - Can't Trust 'Em

My Utmost For His Highest

“ Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as the result of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. Think it through to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something that God would condemn, put a stop to it immediately. But if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don’t allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended. That is the way unrealistic and overly emotional people are made. And the higher the emotion, the deeper the level of corruption, if it is not exercised on its intended level.” CHAMBERS

Have you ever let your emotions determine what you did?  We all have.  The problem is, our emotions don’t care about consequence they just want to be satisfied.  It is not wrong to follow our emotions if the end result will be that God is honored.  That we have not sinned.  I could share many, many stories about my life and the lives of others who have yielded to their emotions and reaped the whirl wind … "They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7)

As I watch people I care about making those decisions .. unwilling to listen to anyone but the voice their emotions...my heart is very heavy.  But then I think about God and how heavy His heart must have been over my choices in the past. 

“For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:16-17)

These verses are talking about emotions rising up within us … Those were the same things that Satan tempted Jesus with after Jesus fasted forty days in the desert (Matthew 4)

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires (emotion) and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures." (James 1:14-18)

If you try to manage your emotions you will fail .. it is only by the power of God through His Spirit and His Word that you will be successful … If you are going to yield your life and future to something, yield them to God … Emotions can’t be trusted, but God can be (Bondye Kapab – God is Able)

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)