March 20, Emotions

Today’s reading: Psalms 96-100

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King” – Psalm 98:4-6.

There are some who say that emotions are potentially dangerous and to be avoided when you serve the Lord. Those people must not have read the psalms, for they comprise a book of emotions — anger, joy, frustration, sadness, and gladness just to name a few. Deuteronomy 6:5 sets the standard for your worship and relationship with the Lord when it instructs you to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” In other words, you are to serve the Lord with your entire being, and that includes your emotions. Are you hiding your emotions when you pray or worship? Has your approach to God been a “mind thing” rather than a “heart thing?” Why are you ashamed of your emotions when you come into God’s presence? Do you think He will be offended? Doesn’t He already know your emotional state before you come to Him?