Effectively Managing Your Emotions

Over the past few months of this year, I’ve noticed some of my greatest battles exist in the depths of my soul – particularly my emotions. It’s one thing to be stuck in your feelings for a few hours or even a day, but it’s something entirely different to make negative emotions your permanent residence. Since the beginning of September, I’ve taken exponential leaps to secure myself mentally by making physical changes like working out and eating healthier. But even with these physical changes, they can become pointless without a mindset shift and determined spirit to change the trajectory of your life by first changing how you view your issues.

With all this being said, 38 days ago, I began a new devotional, “Managing Your Emotions,” by Joyce Meyer. Those closest to me, and if you’ve followed me on social media for any length of time, you know that Joyce Meyer is my absolute favorite author. Her practicality and revelation of the Word is unparalleled and inspirational. One of my favorite books that she’s written is “Healing the Soul of a Woman,” and currently, along with the devotional, I’m reading “Living a Life You Love.”

The subtitle to the “Managing Your Emotions” devotional is “Daily Wisdom for Remaining Stable in an Unstable World.” If I’m being honest, it’s easy to become just as unstable emotionally as your world is. Of course, we all live in the world, but individually, each of us has our own world, and in our world, we face many issues. Perhaps in your world or life, you’re going through a bad breakup, financial hardship, educational failure, or friendship turmoil. Many of the situations we face daily have a way of impacting us emotionally and placing us in the prison of toxic thinking cycles.

On day 6 in the devotional, the theme is “You Have Authority Over Your Emotions,” and Joyce Meyer says, “Feelings in and of themselves are neither good nor evil. They are, however, unstable and unpredictable at times, so they need to be managed.” I believe this quote is the general premise of the devotional. Feelings aren’t evil because God made them and gave them to us! In fact, God has feelings too. However, unmanaged emotions can become dangerous to our lives and those around us. When we don’t manage our emotions, we’re bound to make rash decisions, go places we shouldn’t, and surround ourselves with other negative people.

Similar to us managing time and money, everyone must learn to manage their emotions to be successful in everyday life. It’s easy to reserve joy for celebratory days or significant moments like your birthday, vacation, graduation, or wedding day. But God desires for us to experience the totality of His joy EVERY DAY – so much so that joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit! A key indicator that you are living a healthy Christian life is that you are a carrier of His joy.

Joy doesn’t mean you live a life without issues or failures; it’s a decision to remain content despite your unfortunate circumstances. Throughout the devotional thus far, Joyce Meyer has touched on many imperative topics like what to do when you feel angry, embracing who God called you to be, trusting in the Lord, and deciding to enjoy everyday life.

On day 30 of the devotional, themed “Give Yourself Good Fuel,” there’s a very practical tip shared:

“Don’t get up each morning and wait to see how you feel, and then rehearse every feeling with your words. This gives your emotions authority over you. Instead, take authority over your emotions with your words, and set yourself up for a great day.”

Although this is seemingly simple advice, it’s powerful when put into action. Often, when we wake up, especially early in the morning, it’s likely that we don’t ‘feel’ like it – whether it’s feeling like going to the gym, heading to work, or even preparing for church. I can personally testify that many mornings, I don’t feel like it. But before we pronounce our feelings over the day, we must take authority and command God’s peace into the day.

One of the ways that I’ve taken authority over my emotions early in the day is simply getting up and seeking the Lord first. Having an early morning devotional has changed the outcome of my day, even when I’m not totally feeling it. By praying, worshipping, and studying the Bible during the first hour of my day, I’ve become more equipped to face the trials that may come after.

Managing our emotions may possibly be an ongoing battle, but it isn’t one that God called us to lose. I believe that the emotions He’s given each of us are tools for His glory and not weapons against our success. The key to emotional management is, in one word – AUTHORITY! God has given us authority to rule over our emotions, and when we master using this authority, the conditions of our soul will be like a shining light.

There’s no situation you’re dealing with now that the Lord is unaware of. Nor is there an emotion that you face that Jesus didn’t overcome. I pray for each of you reading this that God would feel you with His abundant joy and that you’d master the authority He’s given you over your emotions!

*Thank you to Hatchette Book Group for sending me the devotional “Managing Your Emotions” by Joyce Meyer*

Link to “Managing Your Emotions” by Joyce Meyer – https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/joyce-meyer/managing-your-emotions/9781546029243/?lens=faithwords