While God's intentions for emotions is to extend His love and grace, the enemy wishes to use our emotions to accomplish his purposes, especially in the hurts and pains of life. If he can turn our emotions to fear, anger and disappointment, he'll be able to take our focus off of God and open a door to resentment and secret vows. A vow is made when we swear to commit to something from deep inside of us: we'll never attend church again because we we're hurt or we'll have nothing to do with men again because Dad didn't love us. Emotional strongholds, or protective walls, are put up to keep us from receiving the love of God for healing and giving the love of God into our circumstances.
Emotions are a wonderful gift from God but they can only be trusted to the point they are submitted to Him. For example, there is a righteous, godly anger, but man's anger does not bring about God's purposes (James 1:20). Jesus showed emotion through compassion, anger, sorrow and grief, but all were driven by the love and purposes of God. The temple merchants who experienced Jesus anger were profiting on the worshipers who'd come from great distances at the most sacred time of year (Matt. 21). Jesus anger toward them was a result of passion for God and His house and He was setting things in God's perfect order. Once he corrected the problem He didn't continue in anger and take it out on His disciples.
The fallen nature of man directs us to run from God when we experience unholy emotions, but the God nature in a reborn person enables us to run TO God in these circumstances. He is able to help us sort through our feelings and break down the walls to understanding, receiving and giving His love. RUN to the mercy seat when your emotions begin to take you into turmoil....grab the hem of His garment and keep your focus on Him. Submit your emotions to God and step off of the roller-coaster! He will reveal motives and strongholds which drive your feelings, then He'll bring healing to your heart!
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