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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Bitter-Sweet Emotions

We are such emotional beings. We have the ability to be happy, sad, angry, scared, nervous, jealous and excited all at the same time. Our emotions are beautiful.

God created us to cry over beautiful sunsets, sad movies and a sick child. We laugh when we see a squirrel run up a tree, our child take a first step or a friend do something silly.

Other times - for me, these emotions can be rather annoying. A difficult challenge to work through.

All too often I am ran by my emotions. My feelings take over and I go from happy to hissy fit in the blink of an eye. God has been speaking to me about this for a rather long time. I'm a very passionate person. I'm passionate when it comes to my kids, my husband, my life, my friends.

This is not always a good thing. I let emotions run me instead of God's truth. I jump to conclusions instead of prayer. I turn to worry instead of worship. I listen to the mean little voice in my head when my husband and I get in a fight or when the kids are acting up beyond their ability to mind me. I do this instead of taking a break, saying a prayer and then speaking.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

A hot-tempered man (woman) stirs up dissension, but a patient man (woman) calms a quarrel. Proverbs 15:18

With the help of God we have to keep our emotions in check . Out of the heart our mouth speaks. Tears are beautiful, laughter is beautiful, but anger is ugly, worry is ugly, fear is ugly. We are Jesus girls and guys and we are run by truth, not emotions or feelings.

Lord let my words be few and may I always turn to you instead of my emotions as I go through my day to day. Amen.

9 comments:

Debi said...

Mandy, I love the comment "I go from happy to hissy fit in the blink of an eye." I laughed out loud when I read that. It is SO me! I, too, tend to let my feelings dictate what I say and do. The scriptures you posted are amazing...I will use them, myself, to help keep me on the right track.

Funny, last night, my Kidz Bible Klub was about the 3 parts of God (Father, Son, Spirit) and how we are made of 3 parts as well...spirit, soul and body. Soul and body will fight with our spirit all the time...it's just what you posted here. Our spirit is our heart...it knows right from wrong. Soul is our mind, will. And body, well that's the 'house.' So...what will we allow to run us...Spirit (heart) or soul and body?

Thanks for the post...it seems to be a confirmation of my lesson last night. Maybe God is trying to tell me something!

Unknown said...

'Out of the heart our mouth speaks.' Love that! I want what is in my heart to always be right and pure...making the words that come out of my mouth be uplifting and encouraging to others. Only with His help can that be the case..

Unknown said...

God is changing us, so we are no longer going to turn to worry instead of worship. God is in control! Amen!

Phather Phil Malmstrom said...

We all fall into this trap now and again Mandy. I describe it as "letting the noise in my head drown out His Voice", and I've been working on it as well.

I love your prayer :
"Lord let my words be few and may I always turn to you instead of my emotions as I go through my day to day. Amen."

Words to live by. Thank you for this, and have a Blessed Day!

Kelli said...

LOve this "My feelings take over and I go from happy to hissy fit in the blink of an eye." Fighting against my sinful emotions and becoming a little more rational and logical is the story of my life, you know? This is great to "I let emotions run me instead of God's truth." That says it all. We have to put head before heart and listen for the Truth of Gods voice. Thats really hard sometimes! Great post!!

Jenifer Metzger said...

Great post! I want to be ran by truth not emotions! Thank you for this.

Heidi said...

I am just like you, but I am learning to sync my feelings up with the facts. I thinking before I'm speaking a little better than I used to and I'm not allowing myself to dwell on the feelings when the facts say something completely different. It's hard work though and without the Lord I'd be eaten up with emotions. Great post!!

Anonymous said...

My husband's fav quote is "a gentle word turns away wrath." I need to stop going from happy to hissy, too! I agree with Heidi, it is hard work.

Thanks for this post. It blessed me today. Focused me just where I need to be focused.

Demi Spencer said...

I absolutely love this post! I used to be one that spoke my mind whenever I seen fit! That is a horrible curse that has followed me almost all my life. Now, don't get me wrong, if it is worth it; I'll still say it. I haven't become silent.. I'm still independent!

God has really taught me a lot in this past month. I listen more and speak with confidence. I don't just blurt things out. I actually take the time and really hear what I'm about to say! Sometimes, this is very challenging with an 8 year old especially with the attitudes kids can have. This is probably the biggest part when I stumble and fall. I'm working on it, though.

Thanks again for sharing this with all of us!