Holy Emotions - Biblical Responses to Every ChallengeSample

We do, indeed, have an enemy who is in constant warfare with us because he does not want us to live the life that God has in store for all of us. The devil is relentless in his attempts to rob you of your abundant life. Many of the weapons in the enemy's arsenal are emotional reactions because he cannot touch our spirits and so his twisted plan is to communicate with our soul. The enemy will try to deceive any one of us into thinking that we deserve to walk in unforgiveness or that no one understands our particular pain. When we agree with him in his deception, our emotional habits will mimic the devil's choices rather than God's abundance. One of the most obvious ways that Satan tries to deny Christians their ability to live an abundant life is by trying to convince them that they are entitled to negative emotions. The devil is thrilled when you agree with him that you are indeed entitled to worry, exhibit unforgiveness or show outrageous anger. Then he rubs his nasty little hands together with glee when he tricks you into blatantly throwing a hissy fit of human ugliness. God does not want you to agree with the devil: He wants you to be like Him. God loves you enough to discipline you until you concede that neither you nor the devil has a better idea than God! Whether you are 8 or 88, no one enjoys the process of discipline. Anyone who desires to be used in a consequential way by God understands the divine prerequisite in overcoming one's own fleshly responses to life. Your flesh, which also can be recognized as your human emotions, stands in opposition to your spirit and to God's Spirit in you unless you have learned not only to discipline the flesh but crucify it as well. If your most passionate desire is to be a grand display of the fruit of the Spirit and the personality of God, the price that you must pay is to crucify the flesh and to discipline your emotions. If you are able to cooperate with God in this difficult endeavor, you will be positioning yourself for availability in carrying out God's significant plan at this time in history.