Embracing Emotions: A Journey Back to God

Devotional

Day 1: Bringing Emotions to God

In life, we experience a wide range of emotions, and the Psalms teach us that we can bring all these emotions to God, even when we are angry or depressed. Expressing these feelings is crucial to avoid unhealthy manifestations and generational dysfunction. The Psalms serve as a reminder that God is open to hearing our deepest emotions, and by sharing them with Him, we can find healing and peace. This openness with God can prevent the internalization of negative emotions, which often leads to destructive patterns in our lives and relationships. [04:21]

Psalm 62:8 (ESV): "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Reflection: What emotions have you been holding back from God? Take a moment today to pour out your heart to Him, trusting that He is your refuge.

Day 2: Consequences of Straying from God's Path

The exile of the Hebrews in Babylon serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commandments. It calls us to examine our own lives and return to God's path. The Hebrews' exile was a result of their disobedience, particularly in neglecting the Sabbath. This historical event encourages us to reflect on our own actions and the ways we may have drifted from God's guidance. By acknowledging our missteps, we can seek forgiveness and realign ourselves with His will. [09:09]

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life have you strayed from God's path? How can you begin to walk in His ways again today?

Day 3: Finding Stillness in Chaos

In times of chaos and confusion, God calls us to be still and know that He is God. This stillness allows us to hear His voice and align ourselves with His purpose. When the world around us is tumultuous, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of God's presence. However, by intentionally seeking moments of stillness, we can reconnect with Him and gain clarity on His plans for us. This practice of stillness is not passive but an active pursuit of God's peace and direction. [14:21]

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling."

Reflection: How can you create a moment of stillness in your day to listen for God's voice? What might He be trying to say to you in this season?

Day 4: The Power of Repentance

Repentance is a transformation of the mind that brings us back to our true identity and spiritual home. Remembering who we are and where we come from is key to this process. Repentance is not merely about feeling sorry for our wrongdoings but involves a complete change in our mindset and actions. It is a return to our spiritual roots and a realignment with God's purpose for our lives. By embracing repentance, we can experience renewal and restoration in our relationship with God. [16:15]

Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: What mindset or behavior do you need to change to align with your true identity in Christ? How can you take a step towards repentance today?

Day 5: Reclaiming Joy and Purpose

Despite the challenges we face, we are called to sing again, to reclaim our joy and purpose. Like the willow, we may bend but we do not break, and our roots in God's Word ensure our resilience. The promise of God's justice and the fall of Babylon remind us that oppression and hardship are temporary. We are encouraged to find strength in our faith and to rise above our circumstances, singing a new song of praise and victory. Our resilience is rooted in the assurance of God's enduring presence and promises. [24:21]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: What is one way you can reclaim your joy and purpose today, despite the challenges you face? How can you root yourself more deeply in God's Word to ensure your resilience?

Sermon Summary

In our journey through life, we encounter a myriad of emotions and experiences, much like the Hebrews did in the book of Psalms. These Psalms, divided into five sections, reflect the diverse ways the Hebrews communicated with God, expressing their joys, sorrows, anger, and gratitude. As we reflect on our own lives, we can see that, despite the challenges we face, there is always room for praise. The Psalms remind us that we can bring all our emotions to God, even when we are angry or depressed. It's crucial to express these feelings rather than internalize them, as doing so can lead to unhealthy manifestations and perpetuate generational dysfunction.

Psalm 137 serves as a poignant reminder of the Hebrews' exile in Babylon, a time of weeping and longing for Zion. This mirrors the experiences of many today who feel like exiles in their own land, facing systemic injustices and historical erasure. Yet, these tears can be the seedbed for revival. The Hebrews' exile was a consequence of breaking God's commandments, particularly the Sabbath. This serves as a call for us to examine our own lives and the ways we may have strayed from God's path.

In the midst of chaos and confusion, God calls us to be still and know that He is God. This stillness allows us to hear His voice and align ourselves with His purpose. Repentance is key, a transformation of the mind that brings us back to our true identity and spiritual home. As we remember who we are and where we come from, we are called to return to our Jerusalem, a place of spiritual, emotional, and physical restoration.

Finally, we are reminded that Babylon will fall, and those who have oppressed will face justice. God calls us to sing again, to reclaim our joy and purpose. Like the willow, we may bend but we do not break. Our roots are in the Word of God, and we are destined to rise again, to sing a new song of praise and victory.

Key Takeaways

1. The Psalms teach us that we can bring all our emotions to God, even when we are angry or depressed. Expressing these feelings is crucial to avoid unhealthy manifestations and generational dysfunction. [04:21]
2. The exile of the Hebrews in Babylon serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commandments. It calls us to examine our own lives and return to God's path. [09:09]
3. In times of chaos and confusion, God calls us to be still and know that He is God. This stillness allows us to hear His voice and align ourselves with His purpose. [14:21]
4. Repentance is a transformation of the mind that brings us back to our true identity and spiritual home. Remembering who we are and where we come from is key to this process. [16:15]
5. Despite the challenges we face, we are called to sing again, to reclaim our joy and purpose. Like the willow, we may bend but we do not break, and our roots in God's Word ensure our resilience. [24:21]
** [24:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:44] - The Book of Psalms: A Diary of Emotions
[03:26] - Expressing Emotions to God
[04:33] - The Importance of Speaking Out
[06:08] - Weeping by the Rivers of Babylon
[08:21] - The Consequences of Breaking Commandments
[09:54] - The Call to Rest and Reflect
[11:28] - The Cry for Repentance
[12:41] - Sitting in Calamity
[15:11] - The Power of Repentance
[17:29] - Returning to Jerusalem
[18:29] - Understanding Jerusalem's Significance
[20:00] - Remembering Babylon Will Fall
[21:38] - The Call to Sing Again
[24:21] - The Resilience of the Willow

Sermon Clips

"that fourth Century theologian athanasia said of the Hebrew Himel most of scripture speaks to us Psalms speaks for us he what he's saying is that when we really look at the writings of Psalms as a human Humanity we can identify from one breast to another breast the pains the sufferings the joys And the emotions we all experience on this down here journey and we see the whole spectrum of human emotion we see anger we see sadness we see happiness we see depression" [00:03:29]

"because if we hold on to things in internalize it it can manifest in other ways that are unhealthy not only for you but we can pass on generational curses and generational dysfunction by not talking about the things that are on our mind so in Psalm we see the whole Spectrum somebody say the whole Spectrum we see people writing to God praying to God singing to God in their anger right in their happiness in their sadness and even in depression" [00:04:46]

"and can I just give another news flash for many of us we never felt free in this Enterprise to begin with and so there are those of us this morning that are Weeping by a proverbial Babylon many of us may feel like we are in Babylon uh we say red white and blue we sing patriotic songs but for many of us we never felt welcomed in this town and so we find ourselves sitting by the river praying when we think about Ruby Bridges" [00:06:36]

"the reason the Hebrews are here is because they broke God's Commandments huh and we live in a day now where people don't want to preach about God's Commandments we don't want to create a culture of accountability in the body of Christ but can I tell you he's the same yesterday today and forever more and we are fooling ourselves if we think we can do whatever we want go wherever we want say whatever we want do whatever we want and think God will just give us a pass" [00:08:56]

"and God has a track record of when Israel would break the Sabbath he would send judgment yes he will and so perhaps the confusion we see right now could be a way of God saying I see so this is how you want it you're going to turn your back on me you turn a deaf ear to people who have been convicted and criminally dangerous to society but yet you you want that and so since you going to do that I'm going to rash my hands and let let you have your way" [00:10:30]

"and sometimes before God can really hear a cry it's got to get worse before it gets better I I I I don't know who I'm preaching to but I hear the Lord saying I'm permitting some things to happen in this nation because I'm waiting on a cry if I hear the cry that I'm supposed to hear I can bring my people back to their prophetic Destiny notice their tears and their weeping are coming from a place of repentance because they realize we are not in Jerusalem anymore" [00:11:41]

"when we look at the word repentance in scripture we see the word meta that might grab some of my gen Alphas ears but it not talking about Facebook meta that's right it's talking about a new and metano change of the Mind transformation of the Mind God wants to bring us this morning as we celebrate our ancestors and I I even believe prophetically if we really search the scriptures you'll be surprised about who natural Israel is but when we find oursel remembering Zion we'll find oursel beginning to repent" [00:16:20]

"there's a connection between your natural identity and your spiritual coming back home I hear God speaking to us this morning cville he's calling us back home he's calling us back to a Jerusalem where we turn our face to the Lord and say father I want to hear your voice like never before he's calling us back to an emotional Jerusalem where we forgive those who have uh offended us he's calling us back to a a healthy physical Jerusalem where we realize the kind of stuff we should be putting in our body" [00:17:42]

"and God does not have a problem with black and brown people we serve a Dei God and that's why he di e on the cross so that everybody could be included my brothers and sisters this text teaches us to sit yourself down somewhere uhuh repent and remember remember who you are amen amen and then last but not least I want to go to verse seven this text teaches us that we ought to remember Babylon will fall" [00:19:39]

"and so Edom sees Jerusalem let me break it down Edom sees this northeast African uh Afric uh bloodline people from the descendant of shim uh Abraham comes from shim uh you remember the story Noah's 3 Sons ham shim and japheth well ham is the father of the black folks come on say black folks uh uh but but shim spends time in Africa he goes in 17 deep with Joseph but comes out Millions deep you may have missed it so in other words this this Messianic bloodline had roots and ties in Africa" [00:21:00]

"and I hope you have the same energy I want you to match that energy when what happened to me happens to you can I just prophesy to America you ought to be careful how you treat immigrants you ought to be careful how you treat marginalized communities you ought to be careful how you treat God's chosen people because the same energy that you gave to our oppression God will let the same oppression Boomerang and come back and hit you in the face you will wonder why the nation isn't prospering" [00:21:44]

"but I hear the Lord saying get your heart back get your song Back get your fervor back get your king back get your prayer back because God God wants you to sing again God wants you to stretch your hands again oh God wants to bring you back to Jerusalem so you can educate like Booker break barriers like Jackie fly high like Bessie stand like Nelson speak like Frederick believe like th good Inspire like Obama Run Like Jesse in vent like Carver shoot for the stars like May challenge like Rosa liberate like Harriet be brave like Ruby protest like Martin" [00:22:51]

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