The many emotions of following God

I love it when people ask me how I am doing. One reason is because it shows me their love and genuine concern for my well-being. Another reason is so that I can actually think about how I am doing, which is becoming increasingly exciting every day!

I'm come to realize more and more over the last few months that one word will NOT give that question the answer it deserves. To really answer that question, in all of the depth that it allows for, I could spend all day. And then the next day hearing how you're doing, and then another day just relating to all the same emotions that we have. I hope someone is laughing about this, because I sure am!

But the truth is, sharing in that depth is so good for us! Because honesty just leads us closer to the heart of God. And when I think of all the emotions that God has for us and about us, its no wonder that our hearts are the same.

God grieves over us. God is excited about us. God has dreams for us. God rejoices over us. God gets angry about our sin. God is passionate about us. God is jealous for us. God is lovesick for us. And all at the same time! No wonder we often say we're doing "good" or "okay", to really go into detail would overwhelm ourselves and the other person asking us! But at the same time the overwhelming feeling of life just brings us closer to the man who is overwhelmed by us.

So how am I? Well, in a typical day while following Jesus, at multiple points throughout the day, many that are overlapping, I feel these emotions:

1. love for people
2. irritation at people
3. grief over the depravity of my flesh
4. joy over what God has done
5. feeling like curling up in a ball and crying
6. so much passion and energy that I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs
7. hatred towards the enemy
8. excitement about the future
9. lovesick for God
10. stressed about money
11. wondering if I'm crazy for believing in God
12. ready to tell everyone how much Jesus loves them
13. full of faith to see everyone healed, saved and delivered
14. discouragement because God is really just teaching me to be patient!
15. very ready for Jesus to come back!

So that's just a typical day in my life of following God. I've never felt more joy, more ecstasy or passion, and at the same time I've never felt more pain, anguish and grief. Is it worth it? Sometimes the enemy tries to tell me no, but then the voice of truth always rings louder, and I feel God speak to my heart:

Its worth it! Keep going! Just think of judgment day when you will see me face to face, and you will hear me say: WELL DONE! MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!
And then I'll probably have even more emotions than I have ever experienced. Bring it on!