In part 2
Who we are "in," or what (WHO) we know and believe is in us, is so so so important. It defines us. Because what's inside comes out. It has to. Its too big not to. Whether it be good, bad, or ugly. We are not meant to hold things in. Think about it. When you bottle up your anger... it eventually explodes. That's just the way we're built. That's why we need healthy, positive ways to express ourselves. Emotions are too big. They need room. And I think a huge part of that is simply acknowledging them. I always tell people, "Feel how you feel, but don't let it control you." Because if you're mad... you're mad. It doesn't really matter if you "should" be mad or not. What matters is what you do with that anger. Or that hurt. Or that happiness. Whatever it is that you're feeling. We're supposed to feel things. The key is to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves. I think Ephesians 4:26 says it best, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Be angry. But be in control. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit. And don't let it fester. Don't let the sun go down on it. Deal with it. Release it--again, in a positive, healthy way--and be done with it. Let what's REALLY inside trump what you sometimes FEEL inside. There's a song lyric--y'all know I like to quote song lyrics--that says, "I can't tell you what it really is, I can only tell you what it feels like." Well, Spiritually speaking its the exact opposite. I can't always tell you what it feels like--and I WON'T tell you how you're "supposed" to feel about it--but I CAN tell you what it really is. Because what it really is... is love. That's the ultimate truth of the universe; God is love and He loves you. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. We are the Son, because we are IN the Son. Because the Son is in us. That's our true identity--Jesus. God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. We live in Him because He lives in us. When Jesus was lifted up from the cross He drew all men into Himself. He planted Himself in all men. When we know that Jesus lives in us--that LOVE lives in us--that's when we can rise above whatever we may be feeling. Now don't get it twisted, I'm not saying we should try to not feel it. I'm saying that no matter what it feels like... we know what it really is. "I'm upset. But I know my heavenly Father has my back. So no matter what, I'm going to be ok." Casting our cares on Him, right? Because He cares for us. Letting go and letting God, as they say. One more song lyric for tonight: "I'm madly in anger with you." That's a problem. If we're in anger, its because anger is in us. Because we haven't let it go. We haven't dealt with it. Sometimes even just venting. Talking about it. Letting it out so it doesn't fester and build and then explode. What we are in is what is in us. You are what you love, not who loves you. What you give defines who you are. How people treat you says more about them than it does about you. So know what's in there. Know it, believe it, and let it out!