The Role Of Feelings
Compared to our senses feelings can be rather a problem, although they
are part of our essential make-up. Both, in their different ways, give us information about the environment so that the brain can process it and we can decide what action is necessary. Our emotions, however, can result in our taking what is really all considered action.

 The Effect of Dominant Emotions
We often let emotions become our masters when they should be there to be our servant. So instead of acting according to what we know or understand we behave according to what we feel.

An instance of this may occur if someone we know well treats us in an unkind and unexpected way. We might then begin to ignore them refused to speak to them and avoid places which they frequent. A little reflection, however, might suggest that they have acted in an uncharacteristic manner and that they may possibly have been under some stress, or that there is some other explanation of their behaviour.

But we have allowed our emotions to dominate and even determine our own behaviour. This may not only have cost us a friendship but it has also resulted in Christian behaviour, feelings of self pity and may even cause retaliation.

Our and what people know of us is then being determined by our emotions. We become full of emotion instead of people of love. We are not living as people of love and, indeed, are rejecting the Father' s grace.

On each occasion that we allow our emotions to dictate our behaviour we promote them to mastery over us. God did not give us emotions for this purpose. We have to realise that emotions simply provide us with information, information which we have to consider and interpret before acting upon. We have to according to the Spirit: the Spirit is truth and what he reveals is truth whereas our emotions have no direct relevance to truth.

The Function of Emotions.
When emotions, for example, appear to tell us that we have been, there are, as it were, attempting to control us. Whether that hurt is of any consequence or not depends on our assessing the whole context of it and reaching a decision.

Our emotions should merely be informing us and not determining our action. The former is there real role and not the latter. As Christians are behaviour needs to be informed by the Spirit so that we follow the examples of Jesus and do not respond to what may, in effect, be random stimuli.

When we have properly understood the role of emotions and determined to be in control of them we are on a much firmer path in our spiritual development.

Author:AK Whitehead.Web Site:http://www.christianword.co.uk
Although copyright it may be used providing this is included.
Over 27 years in Christian healing, teaching, writing ministries in UK, USA with wife Iris. Written several books (see website),many articles. Quals include BA, M.Phil, Cambridge Unv Cert in Religious Studies, Post Grad Cert in Education.