Earlier this year I went I on a business trip and saw a girl at a restaurant who was attractive. I could see that I got her attention and the feeling of being noticed made me want to go talk to her and get her number etc. I was in a strange city, no one would know. [Thread]

Immediately the temptation came, I realized that my emotions where making a move to influence my decisions. Lust was planning to override the commitments I made to my wife. Thankfully, I dont rate my emotions so I didnt act on the temptation.

On my journey to total freedom sexual immorality issues I realized one key tool of temptation was my Emotions. The more I refused to be influenced by emotions, the easier it was for me to overcome temptation. You have understand one key thing: Emotions are not to be listened to.

Let me lay down at once a central thought - it's okay to feel. Though emotions should never control us, they should be felt. However, they should not be indulged. Its mature to feel them but immature to wallow in them or give them control.

Over the past 2 months we have heard and seen results of people who indulged their emotions which guided their decisions. Its why a Police Officer who is meant to protect people, will let hate over ride his duty thereby killing an innocent man in the worst way possible.

It's why some men will let lust override the No a woman says and rape her. Because porn plays out how a woman can be dressed a Nun (covered from head to toe), school girl or any other female role and want sex even when she said no at first.

Entire civilizations have fallen due to emotions. Genocides have happened because Hitler used pride and superiority complex to gather followers and thousands in Rwanda died when Tutsis and Hutus killed each other after they were programmed by hate speech.

As a believer, the fruit of the Spirit has become your nature, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Selfcontrol etc. These are not emotions, these have become your nature. This Nature is proactive, emotions are reactive.

So can a believer be depressed? Yes. Should a believer be depressed? No, the Joy of the Lord is your nature. Can a believer struggle with sexual immorality? Yes. Should a believer struggle with it? No, selfcontrol is your nature.

People might say "you aren't being real, your emotions are valid, confirm them". But the truth is when you confirm your emotions, you aren't being the real you who has joy, peace, selfcontrol as his/her nature.

The more you reject the depression and lust your emotions tell you to feel by confessing that you have the Joy of the Lord and have selfcontrol, the easier it is not to be influenced by emotions.

This is why the concept of a new heaven and earth with perpetual bliss is possible. Because everyone there will be totally controlled by the nature of God. Everyone proactively bring kind, loving, patient, etc. That's truely heaven

On this podcast episode, I talk more on my personal experiences and how not rating my emotions at all have helped me not fall into temptation.

https://anchor.fm/joshua-kesena3/episodes/Emotions--The-New-Mans-response-to-emotion-efuquh

For Apple, Google and Spotify Podcasts -
https://linktr.ee/JoshuaKesena