Mis-spent Emotions…

By Morgan Butcher in Deep Thoughts in Prayer in Thinking About Sunday on 1/5/11

Mis-spent Emotion…

We get emotional about many things. We get irritated at traffic, angry when things don’t go our way at work, and concerned about money issues. We spend our emotions on many things every day of our lives.
Even the passive people are feeling many things inside of them, though they may not show it outwardly. Here is a time when God directed one man’s emotions…
“Then God said to Jonah, ‘Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died? You feel sorry about the plant, but Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?’” ~Jonah 4:9-11 When we read this verse from a divine perspective, it’s easy to see that Jonah’s emotions were being expressed disproportionate to the actual needs. He was spending his frustration on a plant dying and being heartless about the thousands of people dying all around him. The grand point of the book of Jonah was God showing what is truly worthy of passion and compassion. It is people! Especially people who are living in darkness; they deserve our primary passion and attention. It is easy for us to get so wrapped up in things that are immediately affecting us that we MIS-SPEND OUR EMOTIONS.
Pastor Brandon shared with us his first goal for 2011 on Sunday morning, ‘Invite like you believe!’  It motivated me to say the least.
What a simple and yet profound thought!  What would happen if we all allowed God to direct our emotions away from our sometimes selfish mindsets and submit to His actual needs? Showing a passion for His people!  Showing compassion for His people living in darkness - do they not deserve our primary attention?
My prayer is that in 2011 I would avoid getting wrapped up in my MIS-SPENT EMOTION and allow God to focus my emotions where He needs them… on His people.  Will you do the same?
-Morgan Butcher
Asst. Youth Director

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