Emotions are powerful! In this post, I want to tell you about 3 things we need to know about emotions but first a few things about feeling feelings.

Feelings can seem so fleeting and changeable. They can tell me so much about myself and can propel me forward in an instant for good or for evil. I can sense them. I can even listen to them coming out of my mouth and know exactly the state of my heart toward people, circumstance, and life at that moment. I have always been a person who was aware of my emotions. I know they are trying to tell me something. At times, I would prefer to not feel them when I am affected by circumstances but that’s not a healthy way to live. Feelings are meant to be felt. While I would rather be non-affected, I know that to feel those rumbles teaches me many things about what is happening in the moment and inside me. Some of us struggle with the power feelings seem to have over us that we don’t want to respond to those feelings any longer. We would rather be numb. We use anything that will allow us to experience positive emotion, even if the delayed outcome is not good for us.

3 things we need to know about emotions: 

1. Only wanting to experience positive emotions makes you increasingly unable to cope with negative ones. 
2. Your emotions are informed by your mind which is controlled by what you believe.
3. The way you move ignites how you feel. Motion creates emotion! Not only can your emotions propel you, but you can propel yourself into emotion. It works both ways.

JESUS & OUR EMOTIONS

In our Young Adult Ministry (YAM) we are reading through Romans. In chapter 6 of Romans, Paul is dealing with them about sin and the power sin has over us to make us obey its passions and lusts. Paul asks a question that seems to knock them upside the head and express a bit of “come on really?!” to these Roman Christians. He says, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Paul is making a case for the truth of the gospel, which is, that if we have believed in Jesus for our salvation then our old nature has died and we now have a new life. If you read this chapter and I hope that you will, you will see that sin no longer has power over us to make us obey it. So what does that mean? Emotions are powerful because they can be felt powerfully! Being a sin slave and having powerful emotions has caused me to fly off at the mouth saying all manner of rotten things to people. I felt justified and full of power when I spoke whatever I wanted, to who ever I wanted, whenever I wanted too. I would rip people to shreds with my words and walk away feeling good about it. Later, I would feel awful. I felt trapped, sinful and worthless. I didn’t know how to stop it. It was a nasty sin cycle I couldn’t get out of. In Christ, I am not a slave to sin and death any more. It can not make me obey it. Jesus gave me back the power of choice. I am not stuck! This is good news, the enemy cannot use my emotions anymore, they are not in control of me. I am!

SPIRITUAL POWER TOOLS

I asked the YAM students “How do we do this practically?” YAM came to this conclusion:

It is the act of believing that I died in Christ and rose to a new life with Him that allows the power of Christ in me to work all things for my good.

Paul asks another question in verse 16 saying, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”  Paul over and over asks questions because what we believe matters. In Romans 10:10 it says, “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Two key components to salvation is belief & confession. These two are spiritual power tools. What I believe in my heart comes out of my mouth and shifts my whole worldview! – Tweet That!

 

 

ITS NOW MY CHOICE

In Christ, I now have the power through what I belief and the use of my mouth to set my heart and mind toward God each day. When I choose to consent to righteousness, Christ lives through me rather than sin living through me. That means I can feel all my emotions – the good, the bad, and the nasty – and as I look past them with fixed eyes on Christ, He transforms them to be used for my good every time. Whether lesson, provision, or propellant, He gives me the hope that even when I mess up and live out sinful actions God will work those things for good. This wonder of God is like a GPS that says “recalculating” Ge will get me to the correct destination.

Set your heart’s intentions today:

Jesus, I set my eyes on You. No matter what happens today, God, help me to lean into Your grace. Would you teach me Your ways and help me to understand the lessons You have for me. Use my emotions for Your glory. Walk with me and nudge me when I mess up. Thank you for the grace you give and how you work all things for good. AMEN

Thanks for Listening,

Starla