Running On Empty, Emotionally

Do you have a Succubus or Vampire in your life?

I'm willing to bet, the odds are, you do. No. I'm not talking about a Female Demon sucking out all your life force through Sex. Nor am I talking about a Creature of the Night, sucking your Blood. You know who I'm talking about. You know them well. Sometimes, when they call, you don't answer. Sometimes, when you see them coming, you cringe, walk the other way, sometimes hide.

You "How are ya today?" Them "Well, you know. My Wife left me, my Truck got Repoed, and my Dog died." Them "Well, you know that Medical issue." Them "My drunk Husband. He is treating me like a Dog. Just got fired again." This is not just one time. This is every time. Even if something is going good, they will say something like "I know this is not going to last. Woe is me. Nothing good ever happens to me."

These people never stop to consider, how you are doing. Even if they ask, and you start to say something, they turn it around to be about them again. You know who I'm talking about. You know their names. They will drain you. They will, if you allow them to, suck the life right out of you. Especially, if you do actually care about them. A loved one, Family member, life long friend. ETC.

Now this effect is even more profound, if at the beginning of you dealing with them, you are already Emotionally drained. If you are running on empty before they start draining you, the effects will be worse. You may even start to join them in "outside" influences. Drinking, Drugs, Sex, so on. Why?

Because thoughts lead to actions. When you start to think on something, you allow the Temptation to take hold. Let's say you were once an Alcoholic. Or a Smoker. Or someone that used to look at Porn. You give it up. You really want to remain free of this bondage in your life. God sets you free from it. Yet, you spend time talking with these types of people that usually have other issues as these, it puts an imagine in your head. Does that make you revert back to it? No. How you chose to deal with it is what matters.

You could immediately reject that thought, cast it out of your head. Or, you can dwell on it. Remember how much fun you think you had when you were doing these things. You remember the taste, the feelings, the "good times" with friends or whatever, that you can associate with them. Then your mind will start telling you how good you have been, and that there is nothing wrong with one Joint. There is nothing wrong with one Beer. People Smoke and Drink everyday. There is nothing wrong with checking out just one Picture. No one will know. Then you do it. One leads to two, leads to you being right back where you started.

Another aspect of being Emotionally drained is Depression. The end result of Depression is Death. The end result of all Sin is Death. Remember, the works of the flesh, or the fruit of the flesh if you will, are these:

 "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." {Galatians 5:19-21} 

The works of the flesh manifest, which means, the thoughts you are having, become actions. Those actions become Sin. That Sin, keeps you from the promises of God.

Why do you think so many Cops drink, or worse? Why do you thing so many Counselors do drugs? Why do you think so many Pastors fall? They spend their entire time, days and nights, dealing with the Dark Side of Humanity. If you are not well founded and continuously recharging yourself, if you are Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually {Which we will talk about next time} drained. You do not stand a chance.

A Pastor is dealing with Adultery, Porn, Drugs, Alcohol , Violence, and various other things just like the Cop, and the Counselor. Then all of a sudden, little Jenny shows up. Those Pants might be a little too tight. But, uh, they look good. Those Shirts may be a bit too relieving, uh, is she wearing a Bra? But, uh, they look good. The Shirts. The Shirts. She always likes to give me a hug at the end of Church. I love her hugs. She smells so nice. She always tells me I look good. And then there was that Camp last summer.... The next thing you know, you see in the News, Pastor Dumdum has been caught having a ten year affair with little Jenny.

This is why the Word tells us to allow your thoughts to be on good things. These are manifest into good things. Continuing in this same passage....

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."

Remember, nothing you see, or are dealing with, is new. 

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." {1 Corinthians 10:13}

Remember what James said? 

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."{James 1:13-15}

Peter wrote this 

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."{2 Peter 1:5-9}

So how do you keep the right mind. One, if you have negative people in your life, that you do not need to deal with, then simply don't. I know this sounds harsh. But if you have someone in your life that is constantly draining you, you need to move on. They will be miserable with or without you. You are not responsible for their Happiness. 

Something else that may seem harsh? The Word tells us that we should remove them from the Body of Christ. I'm not making this up. "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them." {Romans 16:17} "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us."{2 Thessalonians 3:6 }

Actually, Excommunication is not just justified, but is commanded in The Word. So if God tells us to do away with, or have noting to do with a Brother, does he want you dealing with such a person? In other words, if someone is in need, you should help them. If they receive the help, and CHANGE their ways, GREAT. If not, then there is nothing more you can or should do for them. Jesus told us this...

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."{Matthew 18:15-17}

Why? Because they will drain you. They will infect you. They will bring you to their level. You must not allow this to happen. How do you Emotionally recharge? It's actually easier than you think. Simply think "Happy."

Philippians 4:

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

You, unlike the World, have the ability to overcome anything. You have God as your Ally. You have God as your Daddy. Help those in need. Show them The Way. If they chose not to listen, do not worry about them, nor for them, any longer. You have done what you could. Let their problems be their problems. Let your Joy, be your Joy.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}