Emotions
We are called to be emotionally healthy. Jesus, through the Gospel, gives the authoratative structure and foundation of emotional health. It is the Gospel that provides the truths necessary for healthy thinking. If the truths of the Gospel do not inform our mind then we are left to the combined influences of the culture, our own heart, and the deceptions of spiritual darkness to mold and shape a reality for us.
People have genuine emotional sickeness due to trauma, hormonal, and other organic reasons. But by far, the greatest reason for emotional dysfunction is not organic, but not knowing how to think in ways that produce healthy living. It is the opinion of Christian Armor Ministries that, in the absence of organic disease, the Gospel alone provides the necessary truths that equip us to think in ways that lead to wholesome and fruitful living.
We Value Pleasure
We have intellect, will and emotions but it is our emotions that hold the power. They alone have the capacity to feel pleasure, and because of our love of pleasure, they also have the ability to drive our thinking. Emotions are powerful within our thinking processes; they not only have a seat in the boardroom of our life, they often are given the position of chairman.
It is normal and good to love pleasure and to love fulfillment, however, we need to discipline our lives to love godly pleasures and receive fulfillment from the work of Christ. If we are ever going to be emotionally healthy our fulfillment must come from the Cross. If our priority is personal fulfillment apart from Christ, then we are off center, and will be open to the counsels of Darkness rather than the Word. In our search for fulfillment we give ourselves to what, or who, we think will give us what we need. But we are always left empty, for Christ has reserved us for Himself, and He alone provides for our highest pleasures; He is the only source of spiritual and emotional fulfillment. We need to be honest about our pursuits and what they do to us. Fleshly emotions promise fulfillment, but they cannot deliver; only a heart and mind looking to the accomplishments of Christ find fulfillment. If our heart is under the control of our fleshly nature, then we cannot be satisfied, and we will suffer the emotional consequences of chronic unfulfillment. If we are not emotionally dependent on the Cross and what it has accomplished for us then we are consigned to emptiness and the emotional conditions that result from a life that cannot find peace.
The Problem With Emotions
The problem with emotions is they have the power to rule our choices and our behavior. If we look to people or things for fulfillment, i.e, pleasure, then we have not made a decision to love God first. We have been given all spiritual blessings in Christ. Heaven gives its best, and if we cannot find fulfillment, then we need to consider what it is we really want. If we have found only emptiness, then we need to admit we are looking to that which cannot satisfy. Christ is our Maker and the only One who can satisfy. We need to turn our eyes, heart, and emotions to Christ. If our emotions and imaginations were honest they would tell us to find meaning and fulfillment in the redemptive victories of the Cross. Emotions are extremely deceptive and the healthy person has learned to renew their mind and emotions by the Word of God. If we have never learned to exercise control over our emotions, then we give Darkness an emotional foothold, which will only lead us into more and more emptiness. Godly and healthy living is the goal, and the Word of God, not our emotions, and not our imaginations, is the source of Godly living. Jesus prayed for His followers saying, "sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth."
To be healthy we have to be in control of what we think and what we feel.
How To Control Emotions
We will be able to control our emotions if we "walk in the Spirit." The Gospel alone provides the power, through the new birth, to confront our thoughts and feelings.
The New Birth Gives:
- a sound mind
- a new identity
- a new purpose
- power over every sin
- power over our human nature
- power over the Devil
- spiritual understanding
- a real Friend
- real love
- real relationship
- real acceptance
- real forgiveness
- the hope of glory
- the promise of heaven
We need to come to grips with what we really need for emotional health. Solomon, who was the richest, wisest and most accomplished person in the entire world said, every human achievement in this world, will not, and cannot, satisfy. He said, "vanity of vanities, all is vanity".
Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
We are created to love and enjoy the Lord above every other enjoyment, and we will never reach emotional fulfillment apart from our created purpose. If we look to people or to things for fulfillment then we learn, even with the best they can give, our deepest needs are left unfulfilled.
Proverbs tells us that the person who loves money cannot be satisfied with any amount of money. The eye cannot see enough and the ear cannot hear enough to achieve satisfaction. We are further told that a backslider is filled with his own ways, but a good man is satisfied "from himself", meaning satisfied from above.
Pro 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
What the above scripture says is that satisfaction comes only from above.
The Gospel is God's answer for every single problem we have, for the Gospel translates us from the power of Darkness into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:10-14 (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
The Gospel alone is able to give emotional wholeness for it meets every human need.
Where Jesus Rules He Brings Peace
We must be honest about our emotional condition. If we know we have been given everything for life and for godliness, then why are we so unhappy? We have been given God's best, why is that not enough? You say I have an unhappy marriage, well, you also have an unhappy relationship with the Lord! We have to decide who and what we love the most. If we are going to be emotionally whole, we cannot love our spouse above Christ. We cannot allow a person, a relationship, a failure, or anything, to take our emotional health, our emotional health belongs to Christ. If we allow another to take our peace, take our joy, or so affect our life that we lose our enjoyment of the Lord, then we demonstrate that we have allowed ourselves to become dependent on a person, or thing, or a circumstance, rather than Christ. If we love Christ above all, then we are dependent on Him and emotional health is the result. If we are depedent on Christ then we have the power to maintain balance in our relationships. We are to love others fervently, but only by loving Christ first, can we relate to others in an emotionally healthy way. He is the Lord and we reserve the highest place in our heart for Him alone, no one, and not any thing, can occupy that place we reserve for the Lord. If we are truly unfulfilled, then our chronic lack of fulfillment shows we do not love Christ above all, for when He rules, He satisfies with peace. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is like no other; He is our Creator and He is our Savior. Our dependence on Him honors Him, for our dependence on Him proves we love Him the most.
Mat 22:37-38 (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38) This is the first and great commandment.
- we cannot love success above Christ
- we cannot love health above Christ
- we cannot love a healthy marriage above Christ
- we cannot love personal appearance above Christ
- we cannot love self-esteem above Christ
- we cannot love the opinions of others above Christ
- we cannot love physical pleasure above Christ
- we cannot love financial stability above Christ
- we cannot love personal safety above Christ
- we cannot love personal fulfillment above Christ
- we cannot love personal ambitions above Christ
- we cannot love personal dreams above Christ
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Thinking That Empowers Dysfunctional Emotions
Chronic Anger - a chronic dissatisfaction with life and how it has treated you.
Bitterness - bitterness becomes a cancer in the soul and affects our ability to form wholesome relationships.
Unforgiveness - To be healthy we have to be able to let the past go and not give the people and circumstances of our past control over our present.
Hatred - Hatred is more common than one would think. Also, hatred does not have to have strong emotions to be legitimate hatred. Hatred can be as innocent as simply desiring to avoid the company of a particular person. We cannot be emotionally healthy and hate at the same time. Hatred is corrosive, it is destructive, and produces emotional dysfunction and ultimately physical problems.
Self-Centeredness - A curious thing happens when we are preoccupied with the problems and pressures of our lives. We lose our objectivity, we lose our peace, and we become very unhappy individuals. Self-centeredness is one of the more important precursors to emotional dysfunction.
Materialism - Beware of the connection between the love of money and emotional dysfunction. The love of money leaves one unable to be truly contented with their life. If one's life is motivated by a love of money or love of things money can buy, then that person's life will be characterized by a shallowness that leads to dissatisfaction and inner turmoil. Listen to the Scripture.
1Tim 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and
perdition.
10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
Patience - to be emotionally healthy we need patience. We need the ability to stay the course without falling apart. The Scripture tells us to look to Jesus for He endured the cross by looking to the joy that awaited Him. This is a good lesson for us, we need to keep our head and keep our faith in the midst of pressures and difficulties. The truth is, there is a better day ahead.
Heb12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at
the right hand of the throne of God.
Moses Endured Present Pain To Gain Future Joy
All Christians Are told To Want Things That Are Above.
COL 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God.
COL 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Do Not Love The World
1John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Eph 1:2-8 (2) Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:, (4)According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5)Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7)In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (8) Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
If Any Man Come After Me...
Jesus said there is a part of us that must be denied; our sinful nature is not willing to find pleasure in the Lord and His ways, this part of us must be put to death. Jesus tells us that by allowing His Word and Spirit to renew us inwardly, we will be able to deny that part of us that seeks the wrong kind of pleasure. If His Word rules within, we will find pleasure and emotional comfort in following Jesus and His Word.
Jesus asks a penetrating question.
What is the value of all possible pleasures, even if you gain them, and then lose your soul? And, can you redeem your soul with the pleasures you gained during your life?
24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Our goal is to have emotions that proceed from a renewed heart; emotions that find pleasure in the things of God, emotions that will support and not oppose us, as we follow the Lord.
God bless you.