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- Oct 26, 2007
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Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back. Proverbs 29:11
You’re an emotional creature. Certain things make you sad, angry, anxious, or ashamed. None of these emotions are reliable indicators, however, of how God views you.
Many emotions can lead to negative and sinful responses. Unhappiness can lead to discontent, anxiety to a lack of faith, anger to a lack of love, shame to believing a lie about how God sees you, despair to self-injury, and jealousy to envy.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Having a “sober mind” indentifies someone whose thinking is in line with God’s. The call to “be alert” means to be prepared and on guard.
Emotions are a by-product of your humanity, but to let them control you is like turning on a beacon helping your adversary find you. Negative emotions make you a menu option.
God’s Word is filled with examples of how negative emotions led to sin. Moses couldn’t enter the promised land because his anger led to disobedience (Numbers 20:12); David’s lust led to adultery (2 Samuel 11); Sauls’ jealousy led to attempted murder (1 Samuel 19); and Peter’s fear lead to multiple lies (John 18:15-27). Godly wisdom recognizes negative emotions, takes those thoughts captive (see 2 Corinthians 10:5), and refuses to entertain these destructive emotions for even one minute.
You’re an emotional creature. Certain things make you sad, angry, anxious, or ashamed. None of these emotions are reliable indicators, however, of how God views you.
Many emotions can lead to negative and sinful responses. Unhappiness can lead to discontent, anxiety to a lack of faith, anger to a lack of love, shame to believing a lie about how God sees you, despair to self-injury, and jealousy to envy.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Having a “sober mind” indentifies someone whose thinking is in line with God’s. The call to “be alert” means to be prepared and on guard.
Emotions are a by-product of your humanity, but to let them control you is like turning on a beacon helping your adversary find you. Negative emotions make you a menu option.
God’s Word is filled with examples of how negative emotions led to sin. Moses couldn’t enter the promised land because his anger led to disobedience (Numbers 20:12); David’s lust led to adultery (2 Samuel 11); Sauls’ jealousy led to attempted murder (1 Samuel 19); and Peter’s fear lead to multiple lies (John 18:15-27). Godly wisdom recognizes negative emotions, takes those thoughts captive (see 2 Corinthians 10:5), and refuses to entertain these destructive emotions for even one minute.
