Are Your Emotions In The drivers Seat

By Pastor Isaac Scott 

This past week in bible study we finished reading the second half of Luke: 22 and we went deeper into understanding the difference between emotions and choices.

REMEMBER, OUR EMOTIONS NEED TO MANAGED WITH THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CARE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT OUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS MUST BE MET AT EVERY TURN. OUR EMOTIONS ARE NOT OF THE SPIRIT BUT OF THE FLESH. JESUS REMINDS US OF SOWER AND THAT “SOME ARE LIKE THE SEED THAT LANDS IN THE GRAVEL. WHEN THEY FIRST HEAR THE WORD, THEY RESPOND WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM. BUT THERE IS SUCH SHALLOW SOIL OF CHARACTER THAT WHEN THE EMOTIONS WEAR OFF AND SOME DIFFICULTY ARRIVES, THERE IS NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.” (Mark 4:16-17 MSG) YOUR EMOTIONS MAY BE VULNERABLE AND IMBALANCED FROM TIME-TO-TIME BUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD MUST NOT. IT MUST REMAIN FORTIFIED NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL.

COMPASSION IS A CHOICE, NOT AN EMOTION. FAITH IS A CHOICE, NOT AN EMOTION. LOVE IS A CHOICE, NOT AN EMOTION. JUST THINK, JESUS COMMANDS US TO LOVE OUR ENEMIES! THIS IS NOT AN ORDER THAT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT. BUT WE CHOOSE TO LOVE BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, NOT MATTER HOW IT FEELS. IN THESE WAYS WE MUST CRUCIFY THE FLESH, WHICH IS CONTINUALLY AT WAR WITH THE SPIRIT. FOR THE SINFUL NATURE HAS ITS DESIRE WHICH IS OPPOSED TO THE SPIRIT, AND THE [DESIRE OF THE] SPIRIT OPPOSES THE SINFUL NATURE; FOR THESE [TWO, THE SINFUL NATURE AND THE SPIRIT] ARE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TO EACH OTHER [CONTINUALLY IN CONFLICT], SO THAT YOU [AS BELIEVERS] DO NOT [ALWAYS] DO WHATEVER [GOOD THINGS] YOU WANT TO DO. (Galatians 5:17 Amp)

IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT USE OUR EMOTIONS AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR OUR NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER. IF WE DECIDE TO TREAT A PERSON IN A BAD WAY OR USE MEAN WORDS TO SPEAK, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE’VE MADE A CHOICE TO REPAY EVIL WITH EVIL. NO ONE OUTSIDE OF US CAN MAKE US BAD OR EVIL. JESUS REMINDS US “THE GOOD MAN, FROM HIS [INNER] GOOD TREASURE, BRINGS OUT GOOD THINGS; AND THE EVIL MAN, FROM HIS [INNER] EVIL TREASURE, BRINGS OUT EVIL THINGS.” (Matthew 12:35) And He said, “WHATEVER COMES FROM [THE HEART OF] A MAN, THAT IS WHAT DEFILES AND DISHONORS HIM. (Mark 7:20) GOD GAVE US EMOTIONS TO SIGNAL AND TO WARN US OF EVIL. HE ALSO GAVE US EMOTIONS TO BE ATTENTIVE AND EMPATHETIC TOWARDS THE PAINS AND AFFLICTIONS OF OTHERS. HE DOES NOT WANT US TO LET OUR EMOTIONS LEAD OUR LIFESTYLES AND BE THE REASON WE MAKE EVERY DECISION. EVEN IN HIS MOST AGONIZING POINT, CHRIST CHOSE TO LOVE US AND WALK TO THE CROSS (Luke 22:44). WHAT CHOICES WILL YOU MAKE TODAY?

Here are some additional scripture for understanding and managing your emotions. (James 1:20) (Galatians 5:23) (Romans 12; Galatians 6:1–10; 2 Corinthians 1:3–5; Hebrews 3:13)