emotions--the 1st commandment

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

God's greatest commandment of His people is to love Him with everything we have...your heart, soul, strength, some versions have mind...alright great i got it!!!

But it hit me (hard) last night when I was reading 'lady in waiting' . that we must love God even with our emotions.

Now some of you maybe be thinking, um duh. But even though I'm pretty sure I knew that I'm supposed to love God with my emotions it just never really resonated with me the way it did last night. Every response, every thought MUST be taken captive in Christ. When I'm sad, frustrated, scared I MUST CALL THOSE EMOTIONS TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

i think too much. so many times (most times) my mind just runs, runs wild. and most time i give into those feelings of hopelessness or depression, of fear (i gave in even as i prayed, letting those emotions control my prayers) BUT what i realized last night---God wants me to love Him with those emotional parts of me... just as much as He wants me to love Him with my heart. He wants me to love Him with my emotions, with my responses and my attitude. (so as i pray through hard situations, i do not deny those feelings but i intrust those feelings to God knowing He is supremely in control...i DO NOT diminish emotion i just realize God is there comforting me)

now does this mean that i'll always be happy happy go lucky NO. i hate this misconception that as a Christian you're supposed to be HAPPY-EVERYTHING-IN MY LIFE IS GREAT all of the time. that is not reality. and news flash there's a difference between happiness and joy.

there WILL BE HARD TIMES! Paul guaranteed us this. But in the midst of this as we honor and LOVE the Lord will all of our heart, mind, soul, strength, AND emotions--through this we can find the hope to carry on. Carry on towards a goal, the greatest goal, which is Jesus: becoming more like Him, loving others like He loved us, and spreading His word to the nations.

THAT is what drives me. not being happy or having a good feeling or wanting a spiritual experience. NO Christ and His love drive me...because I know that in Him true joy is found, and an eternal purpose is realized.

"Do not set your hearts on the world or what is in it. Anyone who loves the world does not love the Father. Everything in the world, all that panders to the appetites or entices the eyes, all the arrogance based on wealth, these spring not from the Father but from the world. That world will all its allurements is passing away, but those who do God’s will remain for ever." I john 2:15-17

love and kisses

i pray you've been encouraged, whoever you may be.