Holistic God

So I've been thinking again. While making coffee and tea at the same time I often solve the worlds problems, and then sit down to enjoy my coffee and wonder who left the tea pot on...

Anyway, I've written about my experience at Onething this past January and the other day I remembered one more thing that clicked for me while I was there, although it didn't really occur to me until just the other day. Again proof that the Lord's Spirit will minister to us with out us being fully aware.

This is the thought that came to me. Our God is holistic in His dealings with us. Growing up in mostly conservative circles I heard the "Don't trust your emotions they will lead you astray!" message more then once. It was fully ingrained in my thinking. I lived in a constant battle trying to push away my emotions every time a felt I needed to hear from God or was seeking an answer from Him on an issue. My family is pretty good about being real with each other and having a good cry when we need to or saying that we are mad or frustrated. My parents have always know the value of venting to a safe person and letting their kids know they have the freedom to do that when they need to. When it came to my relationship with God some how I felt I needed to "be sure my emotions didn't get in the way". This came directly form many of the teachers I sat under. Looking back I can see it clearly. The unsaid thought behind this is... "We have seen the works of the Spirit abused, we've seen people all hyped up, we've seen pressure and guilt make people act weird and no good fruit comes of it. That can't be of God." "All these people who are charismatic are a bunch of loonies hyped on emotion. I don't under stand all this "Works of the Spirit" stuff as they say. I don't think God does that any more. I don't feel anything." Well I would agree that it has been abused. The next step in that line of thinking is however "my mind and rational is more trust worthy then my emotions or feelings" THAT IS THE EROR. We are fallen people our minds are just as messed up as our emotions. If we try to down play our emotions as if they are not as important, never addressing them in our walk with the Lord or thinking that He doesn't value them equally as our minds we are gravely mistaken. We are then left to assume that we must continue to feed out minds on the word but starve our emotions cause they don't really count and only get in the way. That's FALSE. Plain and simple that's a lie. Our God made every part of us. Our mind effects our body and our body effects our emotions and so on... He made us COMPLETE human beings. All three parts working together weather we see it or not. When He teaches us, heals us, refines us... He wants to do it to the whole of us. We don't have to hide or suppress any part of us with Him. He is God enough over the falleness of our minds, bodies and hearts. None of our junk is to much for Him, emotional, mental, spiritual or physical. Did we forget... He was the one who made us? He can handle us. Our King however will not abuse the human heart. We have to surrender our emotions, minds and bodies to Him before He will take the liberty to touch and change. He is the perfect Gentleman.
(and gosh do I love Him for it!)