There are three things that can trip me up as a woman.
- My Mood
- My Attitude
- My Ever Changing Emotions
All three are a normal part of being human, but if I don’t pay attention, any one of the three can take me down a road of living completely and only in “self.”
Living in “self” is normal when not a believer. But, I am a believer. So, now because of my position in Christ, living in SELF does not work for me. Living in SELF will lead me to living in what the Bible refers to as Living in the Flesh, or Living in the Sinful Nature.
What’s a girl to do? Do I just wipe out all emotion becoming a zombie, numb to any reality? No! Of course not. Feelings and emotions are part of being human, and even part of God’s design. But, feelings and emotions are not suppose to lead me…they do however clue me in to what’s going on inside of me, and usually help me realize the areas that I need to pray about, asking for His Strength to be manifest in my “inner core.”
Here’s Webster’s take at the three:
- Mood: temporary state of mind or spirits. A fit of bad temper or depression
- Attitude: A way of thinking or believing, a positioning.
- Emotion: intense mental feeling.
If my temporary state of mind is not kept in “check” I can be carried away in self absorption or the emotion and attitude of the moment. This carrying away is what Satan uses as a way to get me to move away from my secure position in Christ. I begin behaving like I don’t know Him, rather than living in His power and strength.
Today’s Truth: 1 Peter 5:8. Ephesians 3:12,14-17
“Be alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist Him, standing firm in the faith.”
“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. ”
Processing…
When I am living in the mood of the moment instead of in the Spirit’s power, I become a easy target for the enemy. He is already looking for ways to devour me, and I make it easy when I have not learned how to NOT take myself and my fleeting feelings so seriously. When my mood or attitude is contrary to the peace of God, faith in God, or love of God towards me or others…then I am in the slippery slope of heading towards living in my SELF or flesh. I must RESIST my self, and RESIST the enemy who would love to capitalize on me living in SELF and the Emotion of the Moment.
I must run to Prayer! Paul says I can approach God with Freedom and Confidence. The enemy does not want me to do this, and he doesn’t want you to do this either. He would rather see us in a panty-twist of emotions. In Christ, and because of His power, we CAN be strengthen from the inside out…in our inner being.
Today be aware of anything that causes you to go down the path of allowing your negative or hurt emotions to sweep you away into a state or place that you really don’t want to be. Go to Jesus and ask Him for the inner strength to live in His power and presence rather than the emotion of the moment.
Today’s Prayer
Lord, I thank you for emotions. They allow me to feel for others, rejoicing when they rejoice, weeping when they weep. They also allow me to engage in friendship, love and relationship with others and with you. The emotional make-up is part of your design. But, just like any other part of the design, all of us is to be submitted to you, surrendered to you. Today I come to you with my moods, attitudes and emotions, and I lay them down before you. I surrender even this most practical and daily part of me. I love you Jesus.
I do find this to be a struggle. I am emotional and seem to at times get rapped up in them. This was perfect timing as I was finding myself fighting against the emotions knowing I did not want to act on them even though they are so templting I found myself praying. Thank you – this reminder is perfect timing!