Winning Over Emotions

Emotions Caused People To Do... …Bad Things Anger: Cain Killed his brother Able (Gen. 4:1-8) Fear: it to the poor and Abraham lied to Abimelech, calling Sarah his wife because he was afraid of losing his life (Gen. 20:2-12) Jealousy: Ahab killed Naboth because he was jealous of him and wanted his vineyard (1 Kgs. 21:1-14) Terror: When the people complained in Num. 11 it made the Lord so angry that He burned & killed some with fire …Good Things Anger: Jesus became angry at the merchants & moneychangers & drove them from the temple (Jn. 2:15) Fear: Prov. 19:23 describes the fear of the Lord as that which “…leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.” Jealousy: Our God is described as a jealous God (Ex. 20:5) Terror: We are told after Ananias & Sapphira lied about the money they gave and were struck dead for having lied to God that when the church heard it, “…great fear came upon all those who heard these things.” (Ac. 5:5) Their fear would motivate them to be honest and faithful to God.

Emotions Caused People To Do... …Bad Things Strong Desire: Achan brought defeat upon Israel because he kept things from the battle he was not permitted to have (Josh. 7:16-21) Pride: Comes before a fall (Pr. 16:18) Love: “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil…” (1 Tim. 6:10) Sadness: The rich young ruler left Christ “sad” when Jesus told him to take all he had, sell follow Him because he had many great possessions. He was made sad because his thought process would not allow him to follow the Lord. …Good Things Strong Desire: “…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mat. 6:33) Pride: “…if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” (1 Pet. 4:16) Love: “…you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength..” (Mk. 12:30) Sadness: Jesus felt sad and lamented over Jerusalem because they would not accept him (Mat. 23:37)

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart” – Steve Jobs, 2005

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions Excuses People Often Use: “I couldn’t help myself.” 1 Samuel 13:11–12 (NKJV) 11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, 12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the Lord.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions Excuses People Often Use: They Blame Someone Else Exodus 32:23–24 (NKJV) 23 For they said to me, ‘Make us gods that shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”

Our Thoughts Control Our Emotions Understanding Emotions: Not external entities that enter into our bodies like a germ Always a product of our thoughts Are not controlled by externals Therefore, correct thinking = key to winning over our emotions

Input Determines Output

Input Determines Output Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Input Determines Output Philippians 4:6–8 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

How to Win Over Emotions Recognize that YOU are in control of your thoughts. Don’t try to suppress your thoughts. When you find your mind is focused on a negative thought, counter that thought by thinking something positive. Understand that changing our thinking requires an exercising of the changing of our will. (Col. 3:2, 5, 8) Remember that you can’t control what others say or do but you can control how to think about it. Pray for God to grant you wisdom & strength.

Conclusion: How We Think Determines How We Feel Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) 25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.