What emotions rule your life? Some people are Optimists and some are Pessimists. What is the truth about our emotional makeup? Psalm 139:23 states, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts:” What emotions rule your life? Emotions can rule what you think about, talk about, look like, etc. They can rule your activity, your attitude and even your relationships. We are emotional creatures. God made us that way, but like the old Puritan said, “What God creates, the devil corrupts!” Be careful here. Emotions were given to us so that we could experience anger and indignation, love and excitement and to feel disappointment and guilt. These all have a purpose. II Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” You see the difference between good and bad emotions. The emotion of sadness that God sent into your life was never meant to be turned into self-pity. The emotion of rejection that God sent into your life was never meant to be turned into bitterness. The emotion of guilt and shame that God sent into your life was never meant to be turned into wrath. In Genesis chapter three, Adam and Eve’s shame caused them to accuse and condemn. In Luke chapter eighteen, The Publican’s shame caused him to accept and confess.
Gifts Unlimited of Scarborough, Ontario, recently advertised “the Mood Watch”. Here is part of the ad: “You’ve seen the remarkable mood-ring with its ever-changing colors; now you can own an exciting new watch with the same mystical properties! The watch face changes colors from an ominous black through six distinctive stages to a vibrant blue…Many people believe that the colors do reflect inner moods and feelings.” The color was supposed to tell you what mood you were in. But what does the mood you are in tell you? Your emotions are messengers! I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Do you have an emotion of gratitude towards God? Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.” Do you experience this peace? I John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.” Do you love God? Emotions are very revealing.
Matthew Henry writes, “The grace of the gospel teaches us submission and quiet, where pride and the carnal mind only see causes for murmuring and discontent. Whatever the persons in authority over us themselves may be, yet the just power they have, must be submitted to and obeyed. In the general course of human affairs, rulers are not a terror to honest, quiet, and good subjects, but to evil-doers.”
I Timothy 2:1-2, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we made lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
What emotions fill your life? They are messengers from God.