
What Good Are Emotions?
Does having emotions make me weak? The supremely powerful God (Jeremiah 32:27) who cannot be stopped (Isaiah 4:27) has emotions
Yahweh your God is in your midst; a mighty warrior who saves. He shall rejoice over you with joy; he renews you in his love; he will exult over you with singing. —Zephaniah 3:17
Emotions are part of our equipment as God’s image bearers (Genesis 1:26) and do not define whether we are strong, courageous, powerful, or “manly”
My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest – King David the warrior poet —Psalm 55:4–6
Have you ever killed a bear, a lion, or a giant warrior by hand? (1 Samuel 17:34-36)
Have you ever had throngs of adoring ladies write songs about your superior prowess on the battlefield?
The women sang as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” —1 Samuel 18:7
- Have you ever earned the loyalty of 30 elite warriors who made you king and devoted their lives to strengthening your kingdom? (1 Chronicles 11:10-11)
Emotions don’t need to be eradicated, they need to be examined and engaged
Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. —Psalm 42:11
What do emotions DO? (1) MOTIVATE, (2) COMMUNICATE, (3) RELATE, (4) ELEVATE
1. MOTIVATE Action
As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. —2 Corinthians 7:9
Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. —Genesis 4:6–8
Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. —Proverbs 29:20
2. COMMUNICATE what we love, value, or treasure
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —Matthew 6:21
HAPPINESS – Something I love/value/treasure is RECIEVED
SADNESS – Something I love/value/treasure is LOST
FEAR - Something I love/value/treasure is THREATENED
ANXIETY – Something I love/value/treasure is UNCERTAIN
ENVY – Something I love/value/treasure is GIVEN to others
ANGER – Something I love/value/treasure is DEPRIVED by others
Instead of trying to change my emotions, how can I go a level deeper to cooperate with God to change what I love, value, or treasure?
1. Receive Christ and be reborn spiritually
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. —John 3:3–6
2. Renew your mind
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1–2
Practical: read whatever Proverb matches the date (Example: Proverbs 16 on October 16)
3. Fixate on what is glorious in God
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. —2 Corinthians 3:18
Book Recommendation: “Attributes of God” – A.W. Tozer
4. Meditate on what God calls good
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. —Philippians 4:8
- Monday - Micah 6:8
- Tuesday - Romans 10:12-15
- Wednesday - Luke 15:1-10
- Thursday - Galatians 5:19-26
- Friday - Hebrews 10:24-25
- Saturday - 1 Corinthians 13:13