Encountering God: Emotions or Spirit

Throughout the years, I have witnessed the increase of the use of emotions to describe God's work within a person's life.  At the same time, I have witnessed the decline of Biblical means to express the later. It is such trends that are diminishing the presence of God's Spirit both within and amongst His people.

Many people become self-centered with regards to their encounters with God.  Their emotions  are stirred-up by diverse means and persuaded into believing that an encounter with God has occurred. Such stirring of emotions has led many people to express themselves with phrases such as: I feel God leading me ...; I feel the Spirit ...; There is a sweet spirit here ... , to name a few.  In essence, the state of a person's emotions has now become a generator for spiritual encounters as oppose to the later generating the person's emotions.

There are still a few people who earnestly seek a spiritual encounter with God though. Some of them are considered to be over-spiritual for the attitude they hold towards their God encounters.  However, these people pursue God in accordance to the sacred scriptures: "with all of [their] heart", "in spirit and in truth", and "[humbling themselves] before the Lord".  It is such an attitude that disciplines a person's emotions, which in turn allows room for God's Spirit to present Himself for an encounter with God. Hence, some of these people may be heard of speaking phrases such as: God called me ...; God led me ...; The Lord spoke to me ... , to name a few.  In essence, the attitude towards having a genuine encounter with God has allowed these people the capacity to discipline their emotions and truly allow God's Spirit to take charge of their encounter with God.

As I reflect over the two groups of people, I am inclined towards the later one.  This group tends to now be amongst the minority within the diversity of people who share in the Christian faith.  This group is also amongst the most grounded in God's Word, as well as full of God's Spirit.  The people in this group have truly learned what it means to be called-out by God and embraced its significance whole-heartedly.  Consequently God has set-them-apart with an out-pouring of His Spirit and special function.  They are not typical "ministers", per sae, yet they serve God in many capacities, in accordance to His calling and "gifts of the Spirit". It is a special privilege that is available to all who accept God's Son, Jesus, as their Savior and Lord as well as are empowered by God's Spirit to carry-out the special function of their calling.

Let us pray.  Lord God, You who are Great and Grand, I thank You for the opportunity that You have provided me to have an encounter with You. I am grateful for Your Son as well as Your Spirit.  Please help me God, to bring to maturity a discipline over my emotions so that I may have room for Your Spirit, be led into more encounters with You. Amen.