Not Everything I Feel Is True

In Romans 8:6, 8 I read, “To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace . . . Those who obey their human nature cannot please God.” (GNT)

Learning to manage my emotions is the key to peace of mind. In other words, I need to learn to deal with what I feel!

Here are four important reasons why I need to manage my emotions:

First, emotions are often unreliable. My gut is often wrong. My intuition is often flawed. My emotions often lead me down a blind alley. I can’t depend on everything I feel!

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). You don’t have to accept everything you feel, because not everything you feel is right or authentic or will lead you in the right direction.

Secondly, I don’t want to be manipulated. If I don’t control my emotions, they will control me, and I will be manipulated by my moods. And if I’m always guided by my feelings, other people will take advantage of me. Worst of all, negative emotions are Satan’s favorite tool. He will use fear, resentment, and worry to wreak havoc in my life.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (NIV).

Thirdly, I want to please God. God cannot rule my life if emotions rule me. If I make my decisions based on how I feel, then I’ve made my feelings my god, and then God can’t be God in my life.

Romans 8 says, “To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace . . . Those who obey their human nature cannot please God” (Romans 8:6, 8 GNT).

Lastly, I want to succeed in life. Study after study has shown that my emotional quotient is far more important than my IQ when it comes to success. How many people do I know who ruined their reputation because of something said in anger? Or missed a job opportunity because of their lack of self-control?

The Bible says in Proverbs 5:23, “[People] get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control” (CEV).

When I choose to follow Jesus, that decision includes my emotions. Jesus wants to be Lord of how I feel, not just what I think and do. He wants to be Lord of my emotions.

The Bible says, “From now on, then, you must live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God’s will and not by human desires” (1 Peter 4:2 GNT).

In summary, to be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace. Those who obey their human nature cannot please God. Learning to manage my emotions is the key to peace of mind. Here are four important reasons why I need to manage my emotions: First, emotions are often unreliable. My gut is often wrong. My intuition is often flawed. Emotions often lead me down a blind alley. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. Not everything I feel will lead me in the right direction. Secondly, I don’t want to be manipulated. If I don’t control my emotions, they will control me. Negative emotions are Satan’s favorite tool. Be alert and of sober mind. My enemy prowls around looking for someone to devour”. Thirdly, I want to please God. God cannot rule my life if emotions do. If I make my decisions based on how I feel, then I’ve made my feelings my god. Those who obey their human nature cannot please God”. Lastly, I want to succeed in life. Emotional quotient is far more important than my IQ. People ruin their reputation because of something said in anger. People get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control. When I choose to follow Jesus, that decision includes my emotions. Jesus wants to be Lord of how I feel, not just what I think and do. So I need to live the rest of my earthly life controlled by God’s will and not by human desires.

Paul divides people into two categories: those who are dominated by their sinful nature, and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. I would be in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered me a way out. Once I've said yes to Jesus, I will want to continue to follow him, because his way brings life and peace. Daily I must consciously choose to center my life on God. Use God's Word to discover His guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, ask, "What would Jesus want me to do?" When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly.