Where Are Our Emotions Taking Us?
There’s no way to overstate how important it is for everyone standing for marriage restoration to understand that the devil WILL use our emotions to destroy and defeat us UNLESS we take control of them as instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, which says For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Fortunately Philippians 4 gives us some VERY specific instructions about how to do that and avoid allowing our emotions and thoughts to defeat us, particularly verses 8 and 9, which say Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. In fact, it would be a very good idea to read the whole chapter of Philippians 4 often!
These two passages of scripture are SO important for us to understand, because they could literally hold the key to whether or not we’ll walk through the challenges and difficulties of standing for the restoration of our marriages victoriously. Not one of us can deny that in the early days of our marital problems, we were devastated and probably even dysfunctional for a time, so no one understands better than those of us who have gone through it just how painful and devastating it really is. BUT there does come a time when we have to pull ourselves up out of that dark hole of pain and despair into the light, of God’s love, and learn to walk in the power and promise of His word. And the only way to do that is with His grace, through the faith that comes as the result of reading and understanding His word, and by putting the things we learn into practice. Because as James 1:25 so clearly tells us, But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Creflo Dollar’s message this past Sunday was an awesome message about conquering our emotions, and it’s a very important message for anyone standing for marriage restoration to pay attention to, especially anyone who is allowing emotions to control them instead of the other way around. Pastor Dollar talks about how in one split second, failure to control our emotions can lead to consequences that totally destroy our lives. Unfortunately, I can really relate to that, because that’s exactly what happened in my marriage. I drastically over reacted to something so totally unimportant, and set into motion events that ultimately led to the destruction of my marriage, and then again so many times later to the end of earthly possibilities of restoration. And if we’re honest, most of us can probably think of similar times in the process that led to the demise of our marriages. But we have to remember that what Satan intends for our destruction, God intends for good, as we see in Genesis 50:20, which says You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. That’s why, no matter how bad and hopeless things may appear, we MUST believe and confess Romans 8:28 (NASB), which says And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. So instead of allowing Satan to destroy and defeat us by letting our emotions control us, we need to practice Matthew 11:28-30, which says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So the only healthy and safe place to let our emotions take us is right into the loving and forgiving arms of our Lord and Savior, where we can rely on the promise found in Psalm 55:22, which says Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. And we have the assurance of Proverbs 3:5-6, which says Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. And we can’t ever forget the Lord’s promise in Isaiah 61:7, which says Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. Or the awesome promise in Isaiah 35:9-10, which says No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
So, don’t miss this very important message from Dr. Creflo Dollar, Governing Your Emotions – Audio, or Video, and then make a God glorifying decision about where your emotions will take you!
As a post script, I hadn’t had a chance to read what Marsha Burns had written in her Small Straws daily prophetic words this week, so I just visited her site and couldn’t help feeling that the following two prophetic words from Monday and Tuesday very appropriately tie into this post, so decided to add them below:
“August 22, 2006: I had a vision of God’s people hanging their harps on the willow trees like they did when they went into captivity. (Psalm 137:2)
I heard the Lord say, just as surely as My children went into bondage when they lost hope, you have been in mourning and grief over certain things and have allowed the enemy to shut your mouth. Your joy has ceased. You have hung your spiritual harp on the willows, but I want you to take it up again and begin to rejoice. If you will open your mouth, I will fill it. Take the first step, and I will use you to dispense My truth.
Psalms 81:10 I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
August 21, 2006: Refuse to allow the enemy to question your faith or reduce you to doubt and unbelief. Only by faith will you receive your promises. Strengthen your faith by hearing My word again and allowing the truth of what is not seen to overcome the doubts of what you can see at this moment. Do not give up or allow the devil to steal your potential, says the Lord.”
Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”