Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Day 7 - Affairs

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 232
         
Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
(303) 972-0859       www.abidinglife.com

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In this day’s writing, Michael gives us a look at one of the most prominent powers in every person’s life…emotions.  And he makes a great case for our needing to know how these can be a positive or a negative.


Day 7

Affairs

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. --I Corinthians 10:13

 Many believers I meet are struggling with the fantasy of what an extramarital affair would provide. They have not bought into the truth that all of us fall out with God before we fall out with one another. What happens next is the placement of legitimate emotions in an illegitimate place. Often I am asked the question, "Is it possible to fall in love with more than one person?" Of course it is, and I like to add, "That is why I stopped dating once I got married!" Romantic love is an emotion, the expression of which is not limited to one event. In one way, emotion is under our control; in another, it is not. For example, a car pulls out in front of us, our child runs in front of a car, or we hear of the death of a friend. During events such as these, emotions are not under our control, but are functioning as they were intended, with stimuli producing legitimate emotions in legitimate situations. However, the possibility exists of putting legitimate emotions in an illegitimate situation, and either way, the emotions feel the same. Remembering a hurtful event from the past--such as the death of a loved one, a breakup, or some harsh rejection--brings emotions not tied to a present event, but to something in the past; legitimate emotions are falsely weighing in to disrupt today's situation. The danger is that emotions can outweigh fact, making them feel legitimate for the present situation. This same thing can happen to men and women who have not set boundaries for themselves and talk flirtatiously to the opposite sex, milk acceptance, and leave covert messages that they are available; some even continue to date others after marriage. They place legitimate emotions that should be reserved for their mate in an illegitimate place. Since the emotions are real, they begin to believe that the place they are expressing them is valid. This is deception. I have watched firsthand as men and women have trashed out their whole families while believing God has finally sent them the perfect partner. It is distressing to watch the new, illegitimate couple clinging to one another in the eager attempt to prove to every observer that each of them has made the perfect decision regarding the perfect person, and that they have never been happier. Legitimate emotions went off to a place they should never have gone. The believer finding himself in this deception will not, by his own strength, get out. He should begin by asking our Lord to go with him every time he is with this other person, to open his eyes, and to break the emotional hold that, though real, is not right. He must determine in the Lord never to allow emotions to stray to a wrong place again to cause the trouble. 

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point      Green – IT, Incredible Truth        
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory



God tells us that there are temptations that are a very real thing.  And that they are common to all mankind.  And that God Himself will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able (to withstand the temptation), but “with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  Rather amazing truth, yes?

A quick review of great insights Michael gives us:
1. all of us fall out with God before we fall out with one another.
2. we can (and, do) place legitimate emotions in an illegitimate situation.
3. in one way, emotion is under our control; in another, it is not.
4. remembering something from the past, we can bring emotions tied to the past
    into a present event.
5. a great danger is that emotions can outweigh fact(s).

But then, as usual, Michael gives us God’s answer to any dilemma we may allow our emotions to go where they should not have gone:
1. believers cannot get out of such deception by our own strength.
2. we first ask our Lord to “go with us” to break the emotional hold that is real, but
    not right.
3. we must determine, in the Lord, to never allow our emotions to stray to a wrong place again…

I wonder why we as a believer choose to wander into any “fantasy-land”?



To access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www .leemccm.blogspot.com 

NOTICE: another blog on Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the Wilderness.  You can access by logging onto www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com


Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
(twitter) @bleemc67    (email) leemccm@gmail.com

P.O. Box 633244   Nacogdoches, TX 75963              936-559-5696

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