“...those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit...letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Romans 8:5-6

Paul says that we are more than conquerors, but many of us feel like we are barely surviving. Like one of those scary reality shows, we often feel like we've been dropped on some deserted island all alone. Can you relate?

Are you battered by the winds of grief

drowning in a sea of guilt and regret

starving for love and attention

melting under your own scorching inner voice

trembling in the face of the predator called fear?

Maybe you, like me, have those days when you struggle to stay afloat, to stand tall, to move forward. Maybe you have given up, and it’s everything you can do to keep from breaking under the emotional storms of this life.

“More than conquerors” sounds like a joke, worse than a joke, a big cosmic prank that isn’t funny anymore. If that’s you, can I tell you a secret? We don’t have to be controlled by our emotions. Will you say that with me?

My emotions do not control me.

As Christians, we have a choice. You may believe that your circumstances lead to your emotions or that your emotions are a reaction to what is happening to you. In truth, your emotions are a product of your thoughts.

When I woke up this morning, my body was tired. This was a physical response. My thoughts were, “I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to go to work.” Then, I felt discouraged.
When I stood in front of the mirror and saw how I looked, I thought, “I am fat. I am ugly. I am overweight.” Then, I felt insecure.
When I discovered that the cat hadn’t been let out, I thought, “Why didn’t my husband take care of him?” I felt angry.
When I tried to praise God, I thought about Heaven, and when I thought about Heaven, I thought about Brandon. I felt sad.

Dear friends, our world is overrun with people who are being manipulated by their emotions, but it doesn’t have to be that way. God is not a liar, and He promises that we can obtain victory. Life is not easy. Paul addresses that fact when he talks about suffering and weaknesses (Romans 8:18-30). But we don’t have to be bossed around by the way we feel. 2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us that we must take our thoughts captive. Like children running amuck in a store, our thoughts can do a lot of damage if we don’t put them on a leash. So, the next time you feel yourself spiraling, just STOP.

S-say what you are feeling.

Often our thoughts are so wrapped up within us that we simply don’t recognize what we are thinking until we experience the corresponding emotion. Saying it out loud can be the first step to taking control.

I am feeling discouraged because I am tired.
I am feeling insecure because I don’t like the way I look in these clothes.
I am feeling angry because my husband didn’t put the cat out.
I am feeling sad because I miss Brandon.

In each case, my thoughts were the primary factor in the way I felt.

T-tell yourself the Truth.

Notice that I said “Truth” with a capital “T.” Ask yourself what God has to say about your thoughts or the situation. If you don’t know, then search His word to find out.

I am feeling down because I am tired, but the Lord says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
I am feeling insecure because I don’t like the way I look in these clothes, but God says that I am “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10) He is more interested in how I live than how I look.
I am feeling angry because my husband didn’t put the cat out, but I know that God wants me to be kind to him and to forgive him because Christ has forgiven me. (Ephesians 4:32)
I am feeling sad because I miss Brandon, but in John 16:22, Jesus said, “So, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”

By redirecting my thoughts, I can change the way I feel.

O-obey and observe.

Choose to obey—regardless of how you feel.

I am feeling down because I am tired, but the Lord says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) So, I will choose to be joyful.
I am feeling insecure because I don’t like the way I look in these clothes, but God says, I am “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10) He is more interested in how I live than how I look. So, I will choose to be confident in who I am in Christ, knowing that I am loved.
I am feeling angry because my husband didn’t put the cat out, but I know that God wants me to be kind to him and to forgive him because Christ has forgiven me. (Ephesians 4:32) So, I will choose to forgive my husband and not hold this against him in any way.
I am feeling sad because I miss Brandon, but in John 16:22, Jesus said, “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” So, I can choose to be happy because I know that Brandon is with Jesus, and I will one day see him again.

In addition, to obeying, it also helps to observe the circumstances that led to your original thoughts and feelings.

I am feeling down because I am tired. Note: I should go to bed earlier.
I am feeling insecure because I don’t like the way I look. Note: I should weed out clothes that don’t fit me, iron those that do, and pick out my outfit the night before.
I am feeling angry because my husband didn’t let the cat out. Note: I should nicely ask my husband if he will let the cat out if he gets up before I do.
I am feeling sad because I miss my son. Note: I always miss my son, but I can choose to remember him with a smile.

P-pray.

Tell it all to God. Tell Him what you are thinking and feeling. Agree with Him regarding what He says. Ask Him to forgive you if you have sinned because of your emotions. Pray that He will help you to obey His Word and to discern and avoid any preventable circumstances.

Ladies, God gave us our emotions to understand and relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world in which we live. However, our emotions become sinful (like anything else in our life) when we allow them to become gods. And, make no mistake, if we aren’t vigilant, those nagging feelings will crawl right into the throne room of our hearts. If we don’t fight them, they will slap a crown on and declare themselves king. If we let them, we will, in fact, become slaves to our fickle sentiments.

If you think you can’t control your emotions, you are wrong. We are not what we feel. Our emotions do not dictate who we are, and they should not tell us what to do. So, the next time you feel yourself spiraling, just STOP and remember that victory is just one thought away.

Note: For some people, emotional problems can stem from a larger mental health concern. Sometimes there are physical causes for the way we feel, including chemical imbalances in the brain. If you feel chronically hopeless, depressed, anxious or fearful, please seek the help of a medical health professional. God gave us doctors and counselors to help us. Medication and counseling may help you get back on the road to recovery.