The Master of the House

We often live our lives as if our flesh and our emotions are the captains of our ship. When we “feel” tired, we quit. When we “feel” offended, we lash out. When we “feel” anxious, we retreat.

But the Kingdom of God is built on a different foundation: the recognition that your flesh is a servant, not a master, and your emotions are a barometer, not a compass. If you are led by your feelings, you are being led by a shifting target that the enemy knows exactly how to manipulate.

The enemy does not usually attack us from the outside in; he attacks from the inside out. He uses our own emotions—our fears, our insecurities, our past hurts—to create a “reality” that isn't actually there. He feeds our flesh the data it wants to hear to keep us stagnant.

If you do not know the enemy's devices, you will spend your life fighting battles that were manufactured by his schemes. He wants you to believe that your current emotional state is the “truth.” But feelings are transient; they are not an objective measure of God’s reality. When you allow your flesh to dictate your actions, you give the devil a permanent seat at your table.

Paul warns us not to be ignorant of the devil's devices. These devices are rarely as obvious as we expect. They are not always grand temptations; often, they are subtle strategies of distraction, discouragement, and division.

The Strategy of Distraction: Keeping you so busy with “good” things that you miss the “God” things.

The Strategy of Discouragement: Reminding you of your past to prevent you from walking into your future.

The Strategy of Isolation: Convincing you that you are the only one struggling, which keeps your darkness hidden in the shadows.

To defeat these strategies, you must submit your flesh to the cross daily. You must stop asking, “How do I feel about this?” and start asking, “What does the Spirit of God say about this?”

When your flesh rises up, you have the authority to speak to it. You are not a slave to your instincts. You are a child of the King, empowered by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

When you feel an emotion that contradicts the peace of God—whether it is anger, jealousy, or despair—do not nurse it. Take it captive. Bring it to the feet of Jesus. When you stop feeding the flesh, it loses its power to manipulate your behavior. The more you walk in the Spirit, the less influence the enemy’s schemes will have over your life. You are not your feelings; you are who God says you are.

The Emotional Audit: What is one emotion that has been “mastering” you lately? Is it a true response to reality, or is it a tool the enemy is using to keep you off-balance?

The Strategy Check: Look at your most recent struggles. Can you identify the “strategy” the enemy was using? Was he trying to isolate you, discourage you, or distract you?

The Exchange: Repent for letting your flesh hold the reins of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to take the driver’s seat and show you how to master your emotions through His power.