Emotions and spirituality

Scriptural Readings: I Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:16

The question of "Are we living the end times?" suggests that we are to draw a line between our emotions and our spirituality. The word confusion has become a powerful term, and fear can't be separated from us any longer. How we live spiritually is now in competition with our feelings. Which is to be trusted, as we see what is happening around the world? Should faith work better with emotions, or faith alone? As Christians, should there be a balance between our emotions and our spiritual lives? Or, do we have to stand on the very foundation of our faith in the Trinity solely?

What do emotions say?

The dictionary can easily tell us what emotions are. Another thing we can be sure about these emotions is that they can be mixed. Countless times, we have affirmed in ourselves that we had mixed emotions. Let's get to the point. Emotions are human feelings that, if used in our own understanding, will lead to senselessness. Unless we fine-tune our emotions in a spiritual sense, we will always have confusion, ambiguity, obscurity, etc. God incorporated emotions for His glorification, and to make use of them, not for us to manipulate them. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding". Proverbs 3:5 New Living Translation. Refer to these Bible verses to understand why emotions are for God's glory. They explicitly explain God's way of using our emotions:

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” – Psalm 126:3

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.” – Romans 15:13

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” – John 15:11

It is all about war

I Peter 5:8

King James Version

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

New Living Translation

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Why is it a war? As Christians, how do we see the daily struggles? You will be having your own responses, of course, but how many of us see this as a trap? Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil... What does it tell us? It tells us we have an enemy? Correct? We are told to be vigilant, like a soldier against our enemy. The devil is our adversary. The entire reality is that we are in a spiritual war. The devil wants us to fall into a trap. The everyday temptations, anxiety, etc, are the devil's weapon. We face this trap daily. In a war, if one surrenders, the adversary becomes the winner.

The difficulties we are going to face will define who we are. One does not realize it. But the moment we go through the spiritual birth, it opens our eyes to the real purpose. It also reveals the battles of life. We entered into a battle between good and evil in which Jesus said, "It is finished".

Ephesians 6:16

King James Version

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

New Living Translation

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.

It is all in faith

No matter what you believe in, you must put your faith in it. Humans will always have something or someone to lean on. Our nature is to hold onto something we trust. This is a fact. They find support or something to hang on to in any situation in life. Even if we think that no one or nothing else can hold on to but ourselves. Faith is one of those supports. No evidence is needed. Once we pop a pill for a headache, we automatically trust that the medicine works. Right? Moms and wives, didn't you trust the century-old recipe handed to you by your mothers? Or maybe you trusted the recipe book you followed? It is impossible not to depend on or fight for what we believe is right. Humanity was made to depend on our creator, our Father in heaven.

The only thing that will strengthen the foundation of our relationship with God is our faith. Faith acts as the definer of us. The target and focus of the devil is for us to lose faith in God. Make no mistake. The moment the foundation of our faith weakens, the devil will have many evil schemes to deploy. It will become easier for him to destroy our faith. In this digital and highly technological world, it is often not used as a tool for God's glory. Instead, it has become a weapon of destruction. Is there anyone who will dare to say that there is no apostasy happening in Christianity? TikTok and YouTube channels are flooded with these people who were once Christians. Now, they are proud of becoming Muslims, Buddhists, and followers of other religions. These individuals despise the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Bottom line: the judgment

The end times can't be separated from judgment. Each mortal man will face God. The reward: Eternal life comes in two forms: Eternal life with God or eternal life without God. ...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. No one should come to know the essence of faith at a deathbed. This time that we are in is now on the final leg. Let this verse sink into us. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27.