Do not let...

"Peace I leave you, MY peace I give to you ... Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" John 14:27
Part of Jesus' parting words to us... they have made me take account of my life in a whole new way.

This is a command, not just a suggestion. A command as real as "do not murder" or "Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, and mind" or "do not commit adultery, lie, etc" Yet how many times when I am worried or troubled about something, feel fear (which has taken over my heart many times), do I think it's just how I am, or how I feel, so it's out of my control? Emotions arise from within us, that's just how we are; pop-psychology tells us to "embrace our feelings, learn from them, let them mold us..."

Scripture tells us to not let some feelings even exist.

How in the world to do that?

Listen to this: "I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression is this, that we allow ourselves to talk to us instead of talking to our self ... Have you realized that most of your unhappiness is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself? The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself" -Martyn Lloyd-Jones

I believe learning obedience to this simple "do not let..." lies at the core of our ability to truly be a disciple, to truly let the Holy Spirit mold us into who He wants us to be. It doesn't have to be worry or fear, but whatever emotion seems to be crippling you... it may seem like more than one can do, to simply not let an emotion exist, but it is also amazingly freeing to know that it does lie within our power (or at least, the Power promised to us!) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2) How many times have I read over this verse because of it's familiarity... yet it holds the key to so many areas of victory in our lives!

And that's as far as I'm getting today - Charissa just woke up and is asking for some attention :)