Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 232
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
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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”?
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