What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
We often think that what we are encountering something that has never happened before. True it may be the first time you’ve encountered it … but God has given you a way ‘through’. And quite possibly many others have navigated the same path before you and made it through as well. Don’t allow the enemy of your soul to make you think you are alone or the only one who has ever had to go through such a trial. You have a ‘friend’ who has faced trials with even a greater magnitude and suffering.
A common misinterpretation of this scripture is that God won’t give you anything that is beyond your capability. Of course that is not true. We are often led into challenges that are definitely beyond our capabilities if we encounter them only with our own strength. But with Him ‘all things are possible’. The key is Him, not our life experience or knowledge. Are we humble enough to ask Him for help and actually listen to His Voice when He gives us instruction? Often the challenge set before us has to do with temptation that the enemy has placed in our path and or our fleshly nature and it’s cravings is screaming for our attention. But as the scripture says He has provided a way of escape. What exactly is that way? Is it memorized formulas or verses? Is it a mind exercise of trying to will yourself through it? I think the key is that “HE” will provide the way — not by our own efforts or strength. The relationship with the Holy Spirit will provide the answer of escape. His Voice listened to in that moment of temptation will give you the way through your situation. You will never be tempted to do something that hasn’t already been very common to all humankind.
What is really missing in this time and culture? Discipline. Self control. And strength of will to direct the soul and body from your spirit and will rather than by emotions / feelings or by fleshly desires. You will / spirit should be directing your path and state of mind not your base nature or emotional senses / feelings. This means being able to listen to the Spirit of God and adjust your will into agreement with Him for the direction He wants you to take, and then make your soul and flesh go in that direction no matter what complaint those parts of you scream in your head or body.
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
I believe this scripture lays out the process we need to take with our thoughts AND our emotions and feelings. Being able to tell what is externally and what is internally going on with us. Where are these thoughts and emotions coming from? Can we discern it? Can we discern the source? Do you think all emotions are helpful to keep? If we accept and keep those emotions and bring them into our chest / inner being — they create ‘feelings’ which then push us into a direction either good or bad. But if we bring those emotions to Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and speak to us about them – He can tell us more of WHY we are encountering these emotions, and then through His instruction we will better be able to navigate those emotions and accept or not accept how those emotions will effect us. The discipline of self control, that fruit of the Holy Spirit is there to help you make the right decisions when you listen to Him. Most individuals have not yet learned how to bring all these emotions and feelings to Christ for understanding. We readily just accept emotions, and that there is nothing we can do about them, which of course is not the case. How can one be angry and not sin? (Ephesians 4:26) That will be through running that anger / emotion through the process of asking the Holy Spirit on how to navigate that anger. This should be the process of how a spiritually mature individual processes all of the emotions they are encountering. Exactly what should be brought before Him? Uh.. everything? That is the context of being in an ongoing conversation with Him about all that you are going through.
These are lessons with the Holy Spirit that we need to learn. Processing thoughts, emotions, and feelings with Him, rather than just accepting the ‘storm’ of emotions and feelings that has seemingly been thrust upon you. Your will and choices should be directing you — after we have received instruction and direction from the Holy Spirit and we’ve come into agreement with Him.
So many live their lives void of any inner dialogue with the Holy Spirit. This fact baffles me. So much of my life is immersed in conversation with Him. I can’t think of another way to live. I would be so lost without His Voice telling me what to do, and reminding me of Jesus and what He has said.
Have you ever processed your emotions and feelings with the Holy Spirit?