Skip to main content

Follow Me on Facebook

Gretchen Mure Rodriguez

Emotions and Your Spirit

God gave us emotions on purpose. It wasn't for us to be led by them, but for the expression of the deep things that stir within us. The other day I sensed I needed to birth something in the spirit which emotionally can really get to me. I wanted to be sure my desire to hit this thing in prayer was coming from Him and not what I was feeling in my soul, so that I wouldn't become vulnerable to an emotional burden He doesn't want me to carry.

This morning as I began to pray with focus, faith, and determination, I sensed the joy of the Lord's presence. This was my key to know that I was, in fact, being led by the Spirit. My prayers fueled the faith in my spirit, positively affecting my emotions. When I was done praying I began to understand how our prayers can be hindered or helped by our emotions.

When we are led by the flesh into prayer, it is a lot of work! It is true that circumstances which influence our emotions, will lead us to pray, but if we remain centered on the commotion of our soul we will miss the power coming from our spirit. Let me explain it another way. When we are upset about something, we go to God in prayer. However, if we continue to focus on the problem and/or the way we feel about it, we won't be able to tap into the answer which comes by the Spirit. Our emotions can lead us into prayer, but there must come a point where we go beyond what we feel in our soul (mind, will, & emotions) and discover the answers that are found IN HIM! 


On the flip-side, our emotions are indicators of what is happening in our spirit. They are an outlet for what you feel from the Lord. When we go into prayer with our baggage (cares, worries, etc.) we feel one way, but when we leave those natural feelings at His feet and go straight into His presence, we will come out feeling a totally different way ~ emotions turn from heaviness to joy, from worry to excitement, etc. God gave us our emotions on purpose, but, we must come to the place where our spirit affects our emotions instead of our emotions affecting our spirits.


To me this was the key! As we grow stronger in our spirit by spending time focusing on the Lord, our spirit influences our emotions in a greater way than our emotions influence our spirit. If we pay attention to our emotions, we will have a good idea of our faith level, what we are thinking about, and where we must re-adjust the focus of our thoughts. 
"In His presence is fullness of joy!" ~Psalms 16:11

Comments

  1. Elsie Montgomery3/10/2012

    Hi Gretchen,
    First, thanks for your comment on my blog. You are an encourager!

    This post of yours is super! And so true. While we fight wars in intercession, getting to the presence and heart of God is the greatest goal in prayer. He is so wonderful. Thanks for directing me to your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown3/12/2012

    Right on, LC! So nice to meet another with a "Burning Heart." Blessings and joy, Gretchen

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You Are God's Mastepiece

Today's article is an excerpt from my book, Prayers on Fire , which I wrote with Brian Simmons. I pray it's a blessing to you. ~Gretchen    I’m mesmerized; awestruck over the beauty of your creation. The evidence of your creative genius streams from the heavens with glory. All of earth echoes your name. There is no denying that you are the Master Artist who set before us your most beautiful works of art.  The moon and stars are dazzling, brilliantly glowing against the night sky like jewels mounted in their settings. Still, I’m awed by something even more splendid than the wonders I see above. God, though you’re famous—great and powerful— you know me by name and call me your child. I am your masterpiece. My Father, whose name is known throughout the universe, you have created me to be just like you. Filled with glory, I’ll shine in the darkness, illuminating the world with your splendor and compassion. Crowned with majesty, I’ll stand in authority ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Making Peace with Catholicism...and Other Religions

I remember it clearly - watching a reel-to-reel movie in Sister Patricia's second grade class. Although I don't remember why the girl in the movie was crying, I do remember the affect it had on me. My heart was gripped by the fact that I wanted to know God more. The church was close to our home and I liked to hangout there, hoping to find God. One of the priests found it so odd, he phoned my Mom to let her know I couldn't be there everyday. Guess I looked a bit like a 7 yr. old hoodlum with my pigtails and missing teeth. In the eighteen years I grew up in Catholicism, no one ever taught me the deep spiritual truths of knowing God. All I knew was to attend mass, say my prayers, and take communion. And I did - until I visited a "non-denominational" church and felt God's presence for the first time. I was wrecked - in a good & bad way. Not only did I find what I had been looking for, I also became judgmental towards the Catholic religion. They had le...
6 comments
Read more

Parenting Messes & Victories- No Domestic Foo Fooey'ness Included!

We've been looking at different ways we encounter God. Today however, I want to talk about parenting. (You know, when I think about it, God actually has used my daughters many times to speak to me and to teach me a great deal about His love. I have encountered Him through my kids countless times!) A few weeks ago I met one of the leaders at the Youth group in which two of my girls attend. She asked me what I did to raise girls so in love with the Lord and told me I should write a book about it. I smiled, but thought, "Oh if you only knew! It hasn't been me, it's been all God." No false humility about it. I'm as shocked as anyone. Our daughters are 20, 18, and 15, and while I am incredibly amazed by their relationship with the Lord, I have no thoughts of writing a book on parenting. Today I only want to offer you my testimony. No sugar coating, no stories of home baked cookies, and domestic foo fooey'ness, but just a very candid look at our journey and...
Post a Comment
Read more