HOW TO DEAL WITH HOW YOU FEEL 50 Days of Transformation – Part 4 Emotional Health Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ March 23, 2014

Romans 12:2a Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Mark 12:29-30 “The most important commandment is this: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your SOUL, and all your MIND, and all your STRENGTH.”nlt

UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS…  God has emotions

UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS…  God has emotions  My ability to feel is a gift from God, Gen 1:26

UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS…  God has emotions  My ability to feel is a gift from God, Gen 1:26  Two extremes to avoid: – Emotionalism: All that matters is how I feel

UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS…  God has emotions  My ability to feel is a gift from God, Gen 1:26  Two extremes to avoid: – Emotionalism: All that matters is how I feel – Stoicism: Feelings aren’t important at all

UNDERSTAND MY EMOTIONS…  God has emotions  My ability to feel is a gift from God, Gen 1:26  Two extremes to avoid: – Emotionalism: All that matters is how I feel – Stoicism: Feelings aren’t important at all  God gave us the book of Psalms to understand our emotions.

WHY I MUST LEARN TO MANAGE MY EMOTIONS

1. BECAUSE my feelings are often unreliable Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that SEEMS right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death.”

2. BECAUSE I don’t want to be manipulated Proverbs 25:28 Like a city whose walls are broken down [no defenses] is a man who lacks self-control [no check on his feelings].

2. BECAUSE I don’t want to be manipulated 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

3. BECAUSE I want to please God Romans 8:6-8 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

4. BECAUSE I want to succeed in life Proverbs 5:23 He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly [lack of self- control].

4. BECAUSE I want to succeed in life 1 Peter 4:2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

HOW TO MANAGE AN UNWANTED FEELING

1. Name it Ask: What am I really feeling? Psalms 55:2 hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught

2. Challenge it Ask: Is it true? Psalms 26:2 Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

2. Challenge it Ask: Is it true? Job 15:12 Eliphaz asked Job: “Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash?”

3. Tame it Ask: Is it helping or hurting? Philippians 2:5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Be TRANSFORMED by the Renewing of your mind… Think differently about your emotions!

Everyday: Ask God to fill me with His Spirit Commanded to: “… be filled with the Spirit” Eph 5:18

Everyday: Ask God to fill me with His Spirit Galatians 5:22-23 “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” nlt

Everyday: Ask God to help me manage my mouth Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

Key: Make God’s Word my word Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Key: Make God’s Word my word Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord!”

YOUR LIFEgroup THIS WEEK “How to Heal Your Damaged Emotions”