You are an emotional-spiritual being. Why is it expressed this way? Because your emotional program was set up first. Then later, you accepted Christ and pursued higher spiritual truths. Your emotional program is how you express needs, wants, and desires. A spiritual program explains God, Jesus, Heaven, and how to live.

The Emotional Program Came First

As you grew up, you learned words to express needs and wants. You copied the language, values, and views of your parents. You developed fears, uncertainty, and identity in those early years. Life was full of challenge and confusion. You succeeded and failed. People and relationships were complicated. That was the beginning of developing your emotional program.

Later, you invited Christ to be your Savior. That’s when you more fully embraced spiritual truths. You continued growing and built a spiritual program. We are told the Word gives you everything you need for life and Godliness.

Notice how your spiritual program was built on top of your emotional program.

I said all that to answer this one question:

Why does a strong pastor or seasoned church leader fall?

At the spiritual level this man loves Jesus, his bible, and the Church. So, why did he fall? It’s because of some old, unresolved issue in his emotional program that was activated. Instead of fighting through with upper-level spiritual tools, he strayed, played, and fell.

When any Christian falls, my first thought is this, “I wonder what broke down in his emotional program?”

Most of us have old emotional areas we battle and struggle to surrender to the spiritual. In closing, remember when you are emotionally hindered, find yourself stuck, or worse–breakdown, even though you still love Jesus, it’s your emotional program that needs work.

Bible Connection

It is each person’s own desires (emotions) and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure them away into darkness.

James 1:14 (TPT) (notation added)

Prayer

Jesus, I want all of me to love all of you. It’s just that some parts of me are more resistant to surrender. Thank you that all of you covers all of me. Amen

And yes, the devil roams around making everything worse.