Emotions On Notice

"He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.'"  Matthew 26:42 (NAS)

Legend has it that cattle dislike a storm and will try to outrun it, ultimately prolonging their misery, while buffalo will face the storm and run through it in a much shorter time.  Whether true or not, there's a lesson.

Avoidance of negative feelings is the god of our current society.  Does God care about your feelings?  Yes.  Are your feelings His main concern?  No.  What is?

"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"  1 Peter 1:14-16 (NAS)

Your emotional state is not as important as your spiritual state.  Jesus acknowledged how He felt, but He lived out what He was sent to do in spite of how it made Him feel.  Living for God will often be hard on your feelings.  Let God help you face that and get through it.  Quit trying to serve your feelings and start living to serve your Father.

Start Winning

Are you always on the defense?

"holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."  2 Timothy 3:5 (NAS)

Jesus took our punishment, cleared the way for us to have a relationship with God, and lived as an example.  Between that and having specific instructions in the Bible about how to live, we have no excuse to continue living defeated lives.  We don't live under the circumstances, we rise above them.  We live controlled by His Holy Spirit, not by our own feelings or in reaction to our surroundings.

Read the first part of 2 Timothy chapter 3.  If any of those attitudes are making an appearance in your life, you can try to do better on your own but it will never work.  Ask God to remove those attitudes and replace them with His love in your heart.  He will do it when you allow it.  When you are surrendered to Him, then you will be able to take the authority He gave you.

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you."  Luke 10:19 (NAS)

Put on the full armor of God and take the offensive position you've been assigned to.  Start taking victories.