Controlling Your Feelings

This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, by going back to the passage we have been studying.  The Apostle Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:3-5 KJV).

Yesterday we dealt with the topic of depression.  We discussed how uncontrolled thoughts can lead to uncontrolled feelings and the results can be devastating.  I hope this helps you understand the progressive picture Paul painted for us, one that goes from thoughts to images to strongholds.  Along those lines, this morning I am led to teach on feelings.  Feelings (or emotions) are great when they enhance your life, but if uncontrolled they can make life miserable.

The job of your feelings is to amplify your thoughts.  I will use the praise-and-worship portion of a church service as an example.  If you sit in an atmosphere where people are leading you to sing songs of praise, causing you to think about the goodness of God for 10-15 minutes, no matter how you felt when you came in the church, you will begin to feel good.  Then the praise-and-worship team might shift into singing songs about God Himself and how great He is.  This may go on for another 10-15 minutes.  By then you may find yourself lifting up your hands in the presence of the Lord.  Finally, if the praise-and-worship team closes out the session with a few minutes of singing directly to God, with an outpour of love from your heart, even if you are not an overly emotional person, you may find yourself weeping or crying out in the presence of your God.  You came in the church FEELING one way, but after 30-45 minutes of THINKING about God and His goodness, you FEEL completely different.  Why?  Because your feelings simply amplify your thoughts.

Now let’s take the opposite approach.  You had a great day and you are feeling pretty good.  You get home only to receive terrible news.  The news is so bad that you FEEL like someone hit you in the gut.  You take a seat and begin to nurse and rehearse the bad news over and over and over again in your mind.  This goes on for 30 minutes.  How do you think you are going to FEEL?  Since you are meditating on BAD news, you are going to feel BAD.  There is no mystery to it.  But what if satan can get you to nurse and rehearse bad news for hours, or days, or weeks?  That’s how believers delve into depression.  Their mind is fixed on bad news, therefore they FEEL terrible.  A doctor can give you pills to numb your feelings, but you don’t have a “feelings” problem.  Your feelings are working.  Your feelings are amplifying your thoughts.  You actually have a THINKING problem and pills to numb your feelings will never deal with the root issue.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  A person with uncontrolled feelings is actually a person with uncontrolled thoughts.

2.  Your mind is the control center of your life.  If you can control the way you think, you will be in control of the way you live.

3.  The wisest man in the Bible said, “Above all, be careful what you think because your thoughts control your life.” (Prov 4:23).

4.  God has given you the grace to take control of every thought, because He wants you to take control of the life He has given you.

5.  It’s your mind and it will focus on whatever you make it focus on.  

6.  Feelings will amplify your thoughts.  So if you don’t control bad thoughts will not be able to stop feeling bad.

7.  Successful people have a disciplined thought life.  They tap into the grace to focus their mind on divine purpose.

8.  Your spirit is the real you.  You are a spirit, you possess a soul — which is where your mind, emotions and will reside — and your spirit and soul live in a physical body (for now).  Your spirit (the real you) can tell your mind what to think, your feelings how to feel, and your will what to choose!

9.  God gave you feelings to enjoy life.  Feelings are a blessing when they are under control.  You were designed to control your feelings, not for your feelings to control you!

10.  As you enter this day, if you focus your thoughts you can actually tell your feelings how to feel!

Closing Confession:   Father, this is a season of refined focus for me.  I take control of every thought.  By taking control of my thoughts I take control of my life.  I tell my mind what to meditate on.  I direct my will to make decisions that line up with Your purpose for me.  I no longer allow uncontrolled thoughts to lead to uncontrolled feelings.  I don’t live by feelings, I live by faith, because I focus my thoughts on You and Your Word.  I enter this day declaring that my mind is alert, my body is awake, my thoughts are sharp and in check, my focus is clear, my purpose is before me, my God is with me, my success is inevitable.  I will never again allow feelings to control me.  From this day forward I tell my feelings how to feel.  I declare this by faith!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.