Different people define emotions in different ways. Some make a distinction
between emotions and feelings saying that a feeling is the response part of the
emotion and that an emotion includes the situation or experience, the
interpretation, the perception, and the response or feeling related to the
experience of a particular situation.
We as christian women, mothers, leaders in the community, mentors, and/or whatever else you may be to others around you... we need to control our emotions. Your emotions can make or break any situation.Controlling your emotions doesn't mean ignoring them. It means you recognize them and act on them when appropriate, not randomly and uncontrollably whenever you feel like it. Take control of your life by taking control of your emotions.
(*These are ways I have found flaws in myself.. These are the things I need to work on with my emotions... hopefully at least one person can relate to these key points in controlling their emotions... NOTE TO SELF: Pointing out the negative characteristics about yourself is not an easy task.)
Knowing your emotions.. There are a million different ways you can feel, however, human emotions have been classified into a few basics that everyone can recognize: joy, acceptance, FEAR, surprise, disgust, sadness, ANGER, and anticipation.
I need to work on accepting and recognizing that emotions don't just appear mysteriously out of nowhere. Many times, we're at the mercy of our emotions on a subconscious level. By recognizing your emotions on a conscious level, you're better able to control them.
Stop and analyze what you were thinking about, until you find out what is causing that emotion. Don't be so quick to act-- that is when we hurt the ones we love.
Ask yourself, "What is another way to look at the situation that is more rational and more balanced than the way I was looking at it before?" (This helps me so much!!) Explore the different possibilities! If nothing else, thinking about other possible interpretations will alert you to many different scenarios, and the difficulty of jumping to conclusions.
Something we never think to do is consider your options. Now that you know what emotion you're dealing with, think of at least two different ways to respond. Your emotions control you when you assume there's only ONE way to react, but you have to recognize you ALWAYS have a choice!
Personally, I not only need to recognize that I have a choice... but I then need to make a choice. When deciding what to do, it's important to make sure it's a conscious choice, not a reaction to another, competing emotion.
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Browsing through my Bible, I stumbled across scripture that to me says I need to see myself as a Princess !! ------
Okay, so it doesn't exactly say that but Isaiah 28:5 does say "In that day the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people."
That to me tells me beyond all the discouragement in life... God is going to give me that crown. He is the only one who's opinion matters. Why am I trying to please all the people who drag me down? When if I please God he's going to give me that beautiful crown.... I would much rather be a Princess of God then a "princess" in today's society!
We can all empathize with the feeling of being trapped in depressing or destructive situations. Perhaps you work with people who see nothing wrong with dishonesty, and you're waging what feels like a losing battle for the truth. Maybe your husband is very discouraging. To those hoping in the darkness, God promises to adorn us with his glory, to encircle our bowed and tired heads with this magnificent crown: which represents his presence. God has a special place in his heart for the mistreated. In reality, we've all been beaten down by the world at one time or another. When you feel discouraged, anxious, or uncomfortable-- picture God's presence, like a beautiful crown, resting on you,... strengthening you! (That is how I interpreted that .... maybe I just want to be a princess.. )
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." -- Ephesians 1:7-8
Women today are often burdened by guilt. We are overwhelmed with the "should of's". Some women feel guilty if they work and guilty if they don't work. We feel guilty if we aren't spending enough time with our husbands, children, friends, or other family. A lot of times I feel guilty for not taking time for myself and for God. Whether this guilt we feel is fiction or reality.. whether we are just feeling the pressure of social expectations or we have really wronged God, or others, either intentionally or unintentionally, we have hope! Jesus declared from the cross that those who follow him are forgiven, right?... Even for unintentional sins! On the cross Jesus Christ took our place and bore all our despair and guilt as if it were his own. Our Savior has dealt with our guilt once for all. What is there left for us to bear?...Nothing. LET GO OF THE GUILT! Right here, Right Now! The 'guilt' is gone! Accept that you are who you are... you are an amazing beautiful woman whom God created for a purpose! That purpose was not to degrade yourself to no end. Quit dwelling on the negativity in your life and find your purpose. God put every one of us on this Earth for a reason. You reason may not be to be a multi-million dollar super model... however, God has a plan and a purpose for us all and that is far greater than being looked at as a super star in society's eyes. Who are you? Find who you are? Can't see past the guilt in your life..... Drop it! It is gone from this minute on do NOT allow it to carry on!
My way of letting go of guilt was/is finding joy in all the things I used to find guilt in. Once again, going back to finding the positive in every negative situation. Galatians 5:22-23 says "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." With that being said... Joy--true joy-- originates from God and from living in close connection with God, not from our immediate situations or emotional states. If you only go to God in times of need, shame on you! God wants us to know joy NOW! Not tomorrow, or the next day, or even next month. You don't wait for when you are healed, not when sorrow has passed, not when we've became successful, not when children or spouse's change, not when we've lost ten pounds, not when you have paid off your debt, received a promotion or brought a bigger home, but NOW----this very day! You are thinking, not today... I didn't do anything today... today wasn't a successful day.. why today? .... I'm not proud of today!... Lasting joy does not reside in God's blessings, God's favors, God's gifts or God's people--- but in God himself! Take time this day to seek the Lord and draw upon him to find your joy---- in return you will find strength in yourself!
Last but not least... Something I struggle with every second of the day. I thank society for this strain. In reality, I can change it. I have control of this so why not remove the anxiety and replace it with new-found confidence. I stumbled across several references to scripture before I decided, Psalm 71:5-6 hit the spot,... "For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you." Amen? ... When we feel weak in the knees and lack confidence, we are most open to relying on God. The Bible gives us declaration after declaration of God's strength in the face of our limited abilities: "I can do everything through him who gives me strength"(Philippians 4:13). "Nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). "Nothing is too hard for [the Lord]" (Jeremiah 32:17). "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). (FORGIVE ME FOR THE OVERWHELMING REFERENCE TO SCRIPTURE...) My point here is simple, nothing silences the voice of timidity as powerfully as the voice of Scripture.
So if you find yourself in a new situation this week, make sure you place your lack of confidence in the limitless God.
Ladies, every man will tell you... there is nothing more sexy than a confident woman! Find the confidence you need. Hold your head high... you deserve to be recognized for the things you hide. I am eager to see you grow... as women it is hard for us to be confident... Men, however, seem to have it down... confidence is sometimes widely mistaken for a appealing trait when sometime it can be annoying... if taken to far.
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In addition to the post this week, I also took the time to look up some scripture for certain emotions.. Typing it all out would have lost your interest... So here they are, if you have the time and want to look them up I strongly encourage it... I found myself scratching my head saying "Hmmmmm..." a lot.
Anger: James 1:19-20, Psalm 4:4, Proverbs 14:16-17, Ephesians 4:26-27
Anxiety: Philippians 4:6, Psalm 94:18-19, Isaiah 45:5-7, Matthew 6:28-34
Fear: John 14:27, Psalm 27:1,14, Matthew 10:29-31, John 14:27
Guilt: Ephesians 1:7-8, Isaiah 1:18, Hebrews 10:22-23
Joy and Happiness: Philippians 4:4, Psalm 100:1-2, Habakkuk 3:17-18
Worry: Psalm 55:22, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 6:25-34, John 14:1, 27
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