On February 2020, my family got a devastated news about my brother. When I received the bad news from my sister back home during our chat, I was putting my son to sleep. I could not believe what I’ve heard. My brother was going to the prison. It terrified me. After a few minutes, news content on social media ranted like a fire. It was so tempting to respond to people who were very critical without knowing the real story behind it. But I was so grateful because the Holy Spirit helped me to control my emotions and not answering the seemingly unending comments from people.
“Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36, NKJV.
It was an arduous journey for us as a family. But it was another season in our family to experience that evil intended for bad and hurt us, but in God’s hands becomes eventual good. Just like the story of Joseph, when he did nothing but his brothers intentionally hurt and sold him as a slave, in Genesis 50:20, NKJV, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” My siblings and I were very emotional during that time. After a few days, I have learned to intentionally spent time with the Lord, and put forward my emotions into worship. I listened to some worship songs until I sang along with the songs and led me to heartfelt prayer. Often, when emotions are haunting us, it distracts our faith. Our feelings instead of our faith imprisoned us. And when our heart longed to worship the Lord wholeheartedly, the Holy Spirit would pour out the anointing just like He did to me that night. I felt like something like waterfalls washing over me. All my heart-wrenching emotions were washed away. And replaced with a peaceful and hopeful mind, and a heart of stillness with God.
What keeps your faith imprisoned with?
Often, when emotions are haunting us, it distracts our faith. Our feelings instead of our faith imprisoned us. @IrishGambito Tweet
Photo Credit by: Hasan Almasi, Unsplash
EMOTIONS
Emotions are normal and part of our human nature. They are God-given feelings and make us human beings. God gave us our feelings and emotions for a reason. We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) yet, it doesn’t mean we felt nothing. But it can be a dangerous trench if we are not very careful to manoeuvre the purpose of it. It can be tricky and drive us to what we think. Thus, it prompts us to do something and help us live in healthy relationships and stay connected to God, and others.
Many times, God showed me how weak I was emotionally. I was too mushy with my feelings and emotions that often kept me in trouble. I used to react enthusiastically, whether badly or in a good manner of response. During the moments of being weak emotionally, I did not realize that the Lord allowed me to take to that direction as a part of exercising my faith over my emotions and feelings. He let me felt sadness, anger, loneliness, bitterness, happiness, and many distressing feelings. Until I felt exhausted. That led me to surrender all of my emotions to Him. “Lord, I’m tired. I am done with this struggle. This is not what you wanted me to have. This is not me. Help me surrender and control my emotions.” My earnest prayer that helped me overcome from a prisoner of my feelings and emotions.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23, NKJV.
What about you? Are you a prisoner of your feelings and emotions? Perhaps you are imprisoned with your unforgiveness, anger, or any unhealthy emotions, including uncontrolled happiness. Anything that we don’t have a self-control over it is not the fruit of the Spirit.
THOUGHTS
Ahhh..thoughts…This is huge!! I don’t even know how to begin on this. If there is a testimony display about overcoming a gloomy outlook, I think I would bag it. Our mind is a battlefield, the arena of winning or losing. Everything begins in the mind. No wonder why Apostle Paul told us to renew our mind in Romans 12:1-2, NKJV, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
If we can renew our mind and thoughts toward the things of God, we can change our world. Perspective changes everything. We can come up with different responses to one picture, or situation based on how we frame it. As I have discussed earlier, I used to be weak emotionally, which I realized later on, it was because my thoughts think negatively. My thoughts wired to a different, unpromising idea and opinions. I overly think things negatively and depressing thoughts. It is from our thoughts where we can create our judgement about others. Now, if we don’t have godly thoughts, we cannot have the victory with hope, joyous, and peaceful judgement.
It is so vital to MEDITATE on what the Scripture says in Philippians 4:8, NKJV, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” And PRAY about your thoughts. 1 Peter 1:13, NKJV, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Meditating the Scripture all over again prompts us to change. Praying over your thoughts and feelings all over again are the keys to freedom. @IrishGambito Tweet
It is astounding how God changed the way my brother thinks than he used to. After more than a year and around 5 months in prison, the Lord released him with a dismissed case. God has a greater purpose for my brother, but He cannot work on him outside the cell because God knew how stubborn the heart and mind of my brother. Just as He did to me, many times He let me experienced challenges in life until I would get what the Lord has been trying to tell me. God wanted me to control my emotions because it is not good for me if I don’t. And He wanted me to renew my mind because it would lead me to distraction, if I don’t.
God changed my critical, fault-finding thinking into more graceful thoughts. Although it knocks around me sometimes but the grace of God is enough to draw me back to His perspective. God’s perspective are forgiving, loving, uncritical, and full of compassion.
It is okay to feel weary. My weariness led me to freedom and surrender. Do not be a prisoner of your emotions and feelings. Do not be a prisoner of your thoughts. Be free in Jesus Christ, indeed.
Just BELIEVE. SEEK the LORD. PRAY. SURRENDER. TRUST and OBEY.
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