Sin does not stand alone.  It does not happen by itself.  It sits on a pillar of beliefs, suggested by the father-of-lies: beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame.  Understand that these beliefs cause anguish: anger, animosity, jealousy, fear, disappointment, confusion, guilt, and despair.  Know that these painful emotions are interconnected with the disheartening beliefs of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame. You do not experience one without the other. They are both part of the OLD MAN, the body of sin that came to live its life in each of us.

 KNOWING THIS, THAT OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN
(Romans 6:6).

I used to feel very guilty whenever I experienced painful emotions in my heart.  I always thought these painful emotions of anger, animosity, jealousy, fear, disappointment, and despair rendered me bad; therefore, I concluded that I had to flee from them as soon as possible.  I did not know that these painful emotions were merely an indication that a negative, destructive OLD MAN belief, planted in my heart by the father-of-lies, was being triggered. What a revelation it was when I realized it was not the PAIN in my heart, but my REACTION to it, that rendered me sinful.

THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR MORTAL BODY SO THAT YOU OBEY ITS EVIL DESIRES
(Romans 6:12).

Blessed One, be patient when your heart is aching. Do not react to your pain. Do not hide from it, run away from it, or blame it on someone else. If you do, this will cause sin to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Instead, cry out to Me, Jesus, your Savior. Find the negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs that are associated with these painful emotions in your heart. Then, ask Me to crucify these beliefs for you. I will answer you by setting you free.

IN MY ANGUISH I CRIED TO THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERED BY SETTING ME FREE
(Psalm 118:5).

What will you do with the current pain in your heart: will you react to it sinfully…or will you submit it to the Lord Jesus?

Did you know that your painful emotions are not really a result of your circumstances, but a result of the negative beliefs, instilled in your mind by the father-of-lies? Your pain serves as a temptation to obey the father-of-lies…or as an opportunity to surrender to God. Which one will it be for you?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you that You came to set me free from the OLD MAN, the body of sin that came to reign in me through its negative, destructive beliefs and its associated emotions. Call me to You whenever I feel like reacting to these painful emotions, Lord Jesus. Crucify the OLD MAN in me, so the body of sin in me might be destroyed.