CHASE THE TRUTH

Emotions often rush in like a tidal wave leaving you riding the ups and downs. Rather than basking in hope and joy of the Lord, you’ll find yourself anchoring joy on how you “feel.”

Rather than giving your partner the benefit of the doubt, you’ll often follow your emotions down an accusatory path.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my own heart over these past few years as a dating & relationship coach, it’s this: My emotions can’t be trusted to lead me toward biblical truth.

Just because I “feel” something doesn’t automatically make it right. Just because I’m emotionally stirred up about something doesn’t mean I should follow those feelings. In fact, I’ve learned that strong and passionate feelings can often be very wrong and sinful.

Now, this doesn’t mean all emotions are bad. God gave us emotions and many emotions are good! But what I’m talking about here are the emotions that are fuelled by sinful desires.

Instead of jumping on board with the feelings of the moment, I need you to stop, pause, and ask yourself if what I’m feeling is true, godly, pure, and Christlike. Instead of foolishly walking forward in the flesh, you need to humbly ask God to help you walk in the spirit.

Galatians 5:16–24 has been hugely helpful for my heart in this area. This passage has reminded me repeatedly what the truth is when my emotions feel overwhelming. Take a moment to read this passage carefully:

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Instead of assuming the worst about your partner, respond with patience and hear him out. Instead of giving into anger when your expectations aren’t met, respond with kindness and self-control. Instead of becoming divisive when you disagree, pursue peace by remembering that you’re on the same team.

Chasing truth by walking in the spirit changes everything. I’m still growing in this, and I have a long way to go, but God has been so faithful to help me walk in the spirit. If you’re someone who tends to fall prey to your emotions like me, I can’t encourage you enough to take this area of your life seriously. Trust me, I encourage you to use Galatians 5:16–24 as a tool to memorize and meditate on when you’re feeling emotionally driven.

Also, whether you’re single or married, you have an amazing opportunity to learn how to chase truth in every area of your life with Prayer this coming Thursday. https://chat.whatsapp.com/EffRTxmXF49KMYyOL4d71w

Now, I’d love to hear from you below:

On a scale of 1–10 (with 10 being the highest), how often do you find yourself driven by your emotions rather than truth?

In what situations do you find it hardest to chase truth rather than follow your emotions?