God-Given Emotions

 

Many people condemn emotions. These individuals focus more on their thoughts and put strict controls over their emotions. They do not trust emotions or emotional people.

The chances are that they were severely wounded by an emotional person in their past, or had a stoic person as their role model. They exalt the mind and censure the emotions.

The Beatitudes reveal to us that God has and expresses emotions (Matthew 5:1-12). For instance, He is angry with and hates the wicked and prideful as well as those who practice and teach iniquity (Psalm 5:5).

He has compassion on the oppressed (Psalm 7:11; Judges 2:18); jealousy over His people (Exodus 20:5); calms us with His love; and rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

God grieves when we make unwise choices, which bring us harm and cause us to reap negative consequences (Psalm 78:40; Genesis 6:6). He also personifies love in the person of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:8).

Our Creator gave us emotions, as well as a mind in order to make balanced choices with our life. The Holy Spirit-controlled temperament provides us with perfect stability of mind and emotions.

We do not have to live as pseudo-intellectuals nor do we need to indulge in negative emotions all the time. We can get in touch with our feelings and use our emotions to express our innermost thoughts.

Prayer:

Father God, You made us with an intricate human body that works together like finely tuned clockworks. You also gave us a soul that expresses itself through our body and emotions. Our eyes are the windows of our soul and often reveal what we are feeling and thinking. You call on us to maintain a healthy body, soul and spirit each day of our life (Proverbs 3:5-8).

Yet, we often ignore the needs of all three of these entities by not exercising, skipping meals and not hydrating; as well as making poor choices for our life, and ignoring or stuffing our emotions (Proverbs 14:30). Remind us that it is possible to feel negative emotions, to express them without sinning, and to find healing for them (Ephesians 4:26; Genesis 4:6-7). Teach us to find a balance between our soul and spirit. Please restore our soul when life attempts to crush us (Psalm 23:3).

Thought for the Day:

God made us as triune beings: body, soul and spirit; our soul consists of our feelings, choices and thoughts; and we can walk in God's Spirit and stay in perfect balance with all three. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Genesis 2:7; Galatians 5:16

        

Living in the Will of God

Living in the Will of God is not difficult, but it does take practice. The biggest hindrance is that we humans want to do things our own way.

We make a pros and cons list in our head about any action before we do it; and that usually causes us to miss God’s will. Human logic has no place in walking in the Spirit.

As we live in God’s will, the only consideration we make, when a thought enters our mind, is do we feel complete peace about it and is it aligned with God’s Word.

If we have any reservations or if the thought is not scriptural, then that thought is from the world, our flesh or the devil. In this case, we need to continue to wait on God in prayer.

Did you ever notice that God is never in a hurry? God also never gives us a detailed plan for His will ahead of time. He rarely tells us what to do until the moment He is ready for us to do it.

This is for our safety more than anything. Otherwise, if He revealed His will before His timing, we would jump ahead of Him or attempt to do it for Him.

Even if the task God calls us to do is unpleasant, His joy is our strength and His peace is our confidence (Nehemiah 8:10; 2 Corinthians 3:4).

Satan may attempt to distract, discourage and derail our attempts to walk in the will of God (Luke 4:13; 1 John 2:16). However, God always helps us to discern His truth over Satan’s lies (Galatians 6:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Living in the center of God’s will is the happiest place on earth.

Prayer:
Father God, we have so much assurance that we can trust You with the specifics of our life. Thank You for keeping us in the palm of Your hand and that no one can deter us from living in Your perfect will for our life (John 10:28-30).

We are so grateful that our security and our future do not depend on our human capabilities, but on You and Your faithfulness to us. Remind us not to rush ahead of You, or to work for You, but to follow Your Spirit each moment of every day.

Thought for the Day:

Our future is in the capable hands of our Creator and our hope is secure in Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:19

Wholly Filled

God has no need for buildings made with human hands - no church, temple, mosque or cathedral, regardless of how ornate or expensive. He made the natural resources we use to build our buildings, so He does not want to dwell in man-made structures (Acts 7:48, 17:24). His temple is the human spirit. However, God only dwells in those who honor Him with a humble heart and a repentant spirit (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The Trinity created us in their image with a body, soul and spirit (Genesis 1:1). Then, God made us male and female (Genesis 1:27). Even with the angels for company, God wanted to share the universe, Heaven and New Jerusalem with human beings. God is our dwelling place, and we are His Temple (Psalm 90:1; 2 Corinthians 6:16). He knows us infinitely better than we know our self.

God gives us many opportunities to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. He created us in order to love us and for us to give love, His love, back to Him and to the world around us (John 3:16-17). Jesus died to restore our unity with God, and His Spirit conforms us to His image (John 17:26; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

God fashioned us to enjoy a personal union with Him, greater than any human relationship we could ever experience, because it comes from within us. There is nothing on this earth that the authentic Believer desires more than to be immersed through all of our being with all of the fullness of God, and to receive the richest measure of God's presence until we are completely filled with Him (Ephesians 3:19).

Prayer:

Father God, we bow to You in humble adoration, thankful to be in Your family and to receive the glorious riches You provide. Thank You for strengthening us with the power of Your might by Your Spirit and for giving Jesus to dwell in our hearts. Root us and ground us in Your love, so that we can understand just how much You do love us. Fill us with Your fullness, so we can be like You (Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 3:10). You are our eternal Father and Your Spirit in us is proof that we are Born Again and wholly filled with You (1 John 4:13).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus is the image of God, which is expressed to the world; and His sacrifice opened the door for us to enjoy this heart-felt union and communion with the Creator of the universe.

Creator God

People today dispute the fact that God is the creator of heaven and earth; yet, even back in Job’s day, they knew who got the credit. God made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades and all the constellations and galaxies in the universe (Job 9:9-10). In fact, His Creation is so wonderful that we are even now continually discovering new truth about it. Scientists recently documented that stars sing. Louie Giglio has several videos that you can Google!

Why God would condescend to give attention to rebellious mankind is the mystery of the ages. We are lower in stature than angels; yet, He cares for us. He even became one of us, and suffered everything we face in life (Hebrews 4:15). God crowned Jesus with glory and honor, after His ascension, and gave Him the rule over the works of His hands, putting everything and everyone in submission to Him (Psalm 8:3-6). God is amazing and beyond our comprehension (Job 36:26).

God reigns forever. His throne is established and He will judge the world and govern us with justice for eternity (Psalm 9:7-10). God is our great Lord and King, mighty in power and infinite in His wisdom (Psalm 147:5). We have no need to put our trust in mere mortals, because they cannot save us. They pass into eternity just like we do, becoming dust with a departed spirit and soul. There is no one like God. We can always trust in His faithfulness.

Blessed is the person who does not hang out with the wicked, join in with the exploits of sinners, or confirm the misconceptions of the mocker. Instead, we delight is in God's precepts and we meditate on His Word day and night. God makes us as secure as a tree planted by streams of water, so that our ministry will not falter, and whatever we do for Him will prosper. We even yield the fruit of His Spirit as we mature in our walk with Him (Psalm 1:1-3).

Prayer:

Father God, if we hope in You, who made the heaven and earth, You will protect the oppressed, feed the hungry, set prisoners free, give sight to the blind, lift the depressed and love the righteous among us (Psalm 146:3-8). Honoring You provides us with knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We prove our humility through our submission to You and You honor us for it (Proverbs 9:10, 15:33). You are our shield as we walk in integrity, and You guard us in the paths of justice. You always protect Your Saints (Proverbs 2:7-8).

Thought for the Day:

God stores up the answer to His secrets and shares them only with those who completely surrender their life to Him. - Proverbs 2:6