RECOGNIZING AND PROTECTING DIVINE RELATIONSHIPS
Scenario 1:
Until I left the area, I used to attend an amazing weekly service a few years back: awesome music, relevant and uplifting word – and the tangible presence of God.
The head pastor – while not as ‘extremely famous’ as some other ministers – is still well known in the country. He is also regarded by some other leaders as a ‘father’: not really in terms of age or spiritual status – but with regards to his heart.
On this particular service day, a young woman walked in. Now this church is urban and contemporary with no lack of beautiful, chic, seemingly well-to-do females – but this lady was something else. Even as large as the church was, everyone noticed her. Continue Reading
PRACTICAL WAYS TO GUARD YOUR HEART AGAINST EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENTS (3)
(4) Limit Your Communication
A certain man once fell deeply in love with a lady – but there was a major problem. He was far, far away at war. To show the seriousness of his intentions, he decided to write her a letter and mail it – every single day.
At the end of 365 days and after 365 letters, the lady got married – to the mail delivery man.
It’s a humorous story, but it shows the power of constant communication. Continue Reading
PRACTICAL WAYS TO GUARD YOUR HEART AGAINST EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENTS (2)
(3)Don’t Pray With – Or For – The Person. Rather, Pray About The Person.
I know this sounds very strange, but since I am predominantly talking to Christians, this has to be said – and it is so important that I am dedicating this whole post to it.
When you begin to get emotionally involved with an individual, you should pray about him/her. However, do not pray for the person – except God strongly lays it in your heart to; and do not pray with the person, except in a group or crisis/emergency scenario. Continue Reading
PRACTICAL WAYS TO GUARD YOUR HEART AGAINST EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENTS (1)
(1) INVITE GOD IN – FROM THE BEGINNING:
Usually, before you become emotionally attached – before a person gets past your walls and into your heart – you know. There’s an awareness. It might be gradual or swift, but you know there’s ‘something’ going on.
At that point of awareness, most people don’t think, “Caution”. Instead, they open their gates by trying to get closer to the person – without letting God in, first. They usually drag Him in after they have been emotionally joined, or had their hearts broken, or issues have arisen. Continue Reading
Years ago, I ‘fell in love’ with someone. I put the phrase in quotation marks because, even though it sounds normal and healthy, it is a gross, laughable understatement.
My feelings were neither normal nor healthy.
I was obsessed. Crazy about him. Overwhelmed and consumed with emotion. Possessed with thoughts of him.
Then we went our separate ways. Continue Reading
If the hashtag for Bootcamp Spiritual was #BuildingSpiritualCapacity – and God were to emblazon the hashtag for Bootcamp Emotions across its welcome banner, it would scream “#GuardingYourEmotionalGates“.
Two points for our groundwork:
(1)A recurring lesson throughout these bootcamps will be: The foundation you both lay as singles in the army will greatly influence – positively or negatively – your marital impact as a unit. Continue Reading
Debby Osa 