Don’t Let Your Emotions Drive Your Life

1. Who created emotions?

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (NIV) John 11:35 Jesus wept. (NIV) Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit. (NIV)  Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens (NIV)

2. What are emotions? 

3. When should we manage emotions?  Proverbs 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (NIV) Ephesians 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. (ESV)

4. Where should we position emotions in our lives?

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (NIV) James 1:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (NIV)  4A. Pause to identify the emotion Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NIV)

4B. Process why we’re feeling the emotion

Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? (NIV) Psalm 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (NIV)

4C. Respond to the emotion with godliness

James 1:20 human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (NIV)

5. Why do emotions exist?

Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me? (NIV) Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (NIV) 1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)