Dear Family and Friends,

I have an admission to make. There are times when my decisions make me look obsessively compulsive.

When asked if I want macaroni salad or tossed salad with my meal, there is no debate, no delay.

There are however other decisions that make me look like a chronic procrastinator.

Such as – why do we bother washing our cars? It’ll just get dirty again. And haven’t you noticed that it always rains after we wash our car? And McKinley Car Wash takes a whole hour and they keep raising their prices…

As it turns out, a study conducted by several universities found there are two areas of the brain that compete for control over our decisions and behavior.

One area is associated with our emotions, and the other area is associated with our thinking and thought analysis – the seat of our intelligence.

Have you ever noticed that most restaurant servers drop off the dessert menus and leave? They know it will take awhile before the emotional and logical areas of the brain resolve their differences.

So, what does this have to do with Jesus?

A few weeks ago, I mentioned there was a time when Jesus was my Savior but not yet my Lord.

I accepted Jesus some 60 years ago at a Billy Graham revival event at Honolulu Stadium. It was an emotional day, my decision based on what Jesus did for me. I even recall telling myself, this is a no-brainer.

As easy as it was to say, ‘Yes Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior’ (See Romans 10:9), actually living a life submitted and obedient to Lord Jesus has been much harder and taken much longer.

My story is not mine alone.

Paul struggled. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”  Romans 7:18-19 NIV

How about you? If I were to ask if Jesus is Lord over your life, I wonder how many would say, He is – except for this area and maybe this one too…

So, what can we do?

First and foremost, let’s not be discouraged. And keep this verse close to our hearts. “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6 ESV

With Christ in us, we will not fail.

When I spent time reflecting on my poor or bad decisions and behaviors, I found that many were made while in an emotional state. Emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness, envy, shame, contempt, etc.

It was as suggested in Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭26‬ ‭TPT‬‬. “But don’t let the passion of your emotions lead you to sin!”

I knew the right thing to do but before I could control myself, regretful or sinful thoughts filled my mind and spewed out of my mouth.

Words like, “I’ll have the macaroni salad.” Actually, there were words and behaviors much worse than this.

God gave us a gift when He gave us emotions. But like the rest of our souls, our emotions are tainted by sin.

The solution to our dilemma is not to be emotionless. Nor to try harder to control ourselves.

The solution to controlling our emotions is to walk with the Holy Spirit.

To stop trying to do it all on our own. And instead allow the Spirit to control, influence and lead our lives.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.”  ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT

I earlier mentioned that living a life submitted and obedient to Lord Jesus can be hard and take awhile. It takes time before the word of God becomes deeply rooted in our hearts and the logical and emotional areas of our minds.

It requires we be patient, persevere and press on like Paul did.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”  Philippians 3:12 ESV

In reality, walking with Jesus by the Spirit is a life long journey.

But be assured that one day you will begin noticing the subtle changes within. On that day, the emotional reactions you once had will be replaced with love and peace. On that day, the temptations, passions and desires to sin will be no more. 

Until that day arrives, let’s walk in the light of the Lord together.

Oh and by the way, I’m glad I didn’t wash my car today. It rained.

In love always,