As a disciple of Jesus Christ I must come to terms with my emotions. The usual image of a saint is one who has disintegrated his emotions, but it is better to visualize him as one who has harnessed his emotions. The Bible tells us to crucify the “flesh,” not the emotions (Galatians 5:24). On the other hand, unless emotions are controlled, they may run from sensuality to depression.
The biblical sequence is clear: my emotions are to be controlled by my disposition of “mind,” and my disposition must be controlled by my will. When Paul said, “Let this mind be in you” (Philippians 2:5, KJV), he was not speaking of Jesus’ brain, but His way of thinking, His disposition. If Christ is alive in me, it follows that His way of thinking is alive in me; therefore, all I need to do is to turn my will over to Him, and consequently His disposition begins to appear in my life.
If allowed to run free, my emotions can lead me into danger. That is because emotions do not make moral choices. I can fall in love with a sinner as well as a saint; I can fear God as well as Satan. Unless my emotions are disciplined and prevented from going too far, I can expect a pack of troubles. A true disciple is – not emotionless, nor is he unemotional; he simply has learned when to let his emotions run and how far.
If I do not rule my emotions, they will rule me. Whenever fear, love, hate, prejudice, or any other emotion dominates me, I become a neurotic. My victory lies in forcibly denying my emotions any preeminence by an act of the will. I must keep putting the reins of my life into the hands of Jesus Christ so that I may “will one will” with Him at all times. Total surrender to Christ is total control of my life, including the emotional side of me, which so much needs His mastery (Romans 12:1-2).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Daily with the King 