Mood as a Force
The Holy Spirit can divide soul and spirit so that the issues of the heart-mind can become obvious (see Heb.4:12). Honest confrontation of 
one’s own heart is the starting place for emotional healing and deliverance. Trials and tribulations are common to all and are ideally supposed to come to good results that bring us to maturity in the image of Christ. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character. (Rom 5:3,4) However, we can refuse to persevere, refuse to submit to change and refuse to mature in character by simply being offended by trouble. I believe this type of offense is common to many: either we are angry at inequity or injustice or disappointments, or we fear those things. We can choose to let go of the anger and fear and walk away trusting God with the big picture, knowing that today’s circumstances are just one scene; or we can buy into the short-term blitz and use a mood as a force to try to change the conditions and the people around us. (The fourth excerpt from Kathy’s article “Investing in Relationships” published in SEEC Magazine.)
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Persevere Through Experiences
Sometimes all the enemy has to do is remind us of old battles. It is easy to allow experience to decide our future, but it is not the will of our Father. Experiences should mature us . . . not rule over us. If we allow Experience to be the final authority and dominate our thinking, we forfeit hope. According to the Word, we must persevere through experiences to get to hope: Rom 5:3-4. . . but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope. (KJV) It is interesting that several translations substitute the word “character” for “experience.” Endurance produces character, and character produces hope, (RSV). Experiences are meant to process and strengthen our character, not become a set of expectations that overshadow our future.
(This is the second excerpt from the article “Threshold Wars” by Kathy Gabler.)
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