Emotions..Craig Denison Ministries

 

Emotions

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

Trust is something we are not created to give away lightly. We value trust like we value our own lives, constantly scrutinizing others to see if they're worthy of our trust. But still we are made to do life with help. We are made to place our trust in that which will provide us with more life, joy, and peace. I pray that this week you and I will discover how trustworthy our heavenly Father is. I pray that we will willingly hand over control of our lives to a capable, loving, and near God. And I pray we will experience the abundant life that can only come through placing our trust in a God who gives up everything for relationship with us.

Scripture:“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” Psalm 33:21

Devotional:

Do you know that God cares deeply about your emotions? Your heavenly Father longs for your life to be marked by emotional joy, fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace. He longs for your emotions to be rooted and grounded in his steadfast love and goodness. Our God is an emotional God. He is not void of feelings. We feel because he feels. We have emotions because we are made in his image.

For much of my Christian life I thought my emotions had to be based on my circumstances. I felt happy or sad based on others’ opinions, the pressures of life, and opportunities I had or didn’t have. As a result I was on a constant emotional roller coaster following the ups and downs of this shaky world. I found myself controlled by the things of the world rather than the foundation of love laid before me by the sacrificial love of Jesus.

Scripture continually describes a link between emotional health and trust. Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Psalm 56:3-4 says,“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” And Psalm 33:21 says, “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.”

We are robbed of having our emotions rooted in God whenever we take on more pressure than we are meant to carry. Our emotional health is directly linked to our level of trust. We feel pressure at work when we look to our job and co-workers for our provision, identity, purpose, and fulfillment. We feel pressure in our relationships when our worth isn’t based on God’s perspective but the opinions of others. We are robbed of peace when we try and plan our own steps rather than following our Good Shepherd into the green pastures and still waters.

In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” God’s heart is to fill you with peace. He longs for you to have all the fruit of the Spirit dwelling within you. He has consistent, constant peace available to you. But you must trust him in every area of your life. You must hand over the reins of your relationships, job, identity, and plans to your Good Shepherd. You must trust that he will guide you perfectly into an abundant life.

Look to your heavenly Father for peace. Find rest in his abundant love. Find your self-worth in the fact that God so desired relationship with you that he laid down his own life to have it. Your Father counts you worthy of the death of his only Son. Trust him today. Place your entire life in his capable hands. And experience abundant life in the area of your emotions, rooting and grounding yourself in his unconditional, available love. May your life be marked by increasing emotional health as you grow in trust.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the link between trust and emotional health. Allow Scripture to stir up your desire and willingness to trust God with every area of your life.

“For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.” Psalm 33:21

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4

2. Where are you not experiencing abundant life in your emotions? Where are you void of peace, joy, passion, and purpose?

3. Ask God to help you discern what part of your life you are not trusting to him. Hand over that area to him and find peace and rest in his trustworthiness.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

Don’t settle for less than Jesus died to give you. Your life can be completely wrapped up in God’s presence, unconditional love, and ability to guide you. You can be filled with the emotions of God. Don’t settle for pressure, stress, anger, and frustration. Don’t settle for sadness, insecurity, or depression. Place your trust in God, open your heart, and receive the peace that can only come from your life being hidden in the heart of your perfect heavenly Father.

Extended Reading: John 14

My Reflection..MISTY ARTERBURN

 My Reflection

MISTY ARTERBURN 

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.” James 1:23-24 (NLT) 

On reflex, I looked in the mirror this morning. Checked my teeth, applied lipstick. My hair was in a high bun. My clothes tucked and properly positioned. I was off to hit the day.

They may not seem like much, but morning rituals like exercising, hugging and taking my kids to school, eating breakfast, and showering are life-giving to me. Especially when I practice them with gratitude and intentionality.

Looking in the mirror is part of my ritual. Actually, it’s a really important part. And it’s not about applying lipstick.

When I look in the mirror, what do I see? Do I reflect the image of my Father today? Are compassion and uprightness my most prominent features, resembling Jesus? Can the Holy Spirit be found in my eyes, the windows to my soul?

Even on a lovely morning like today, I fall short.

Though I know and hear God’s Word, I don’t always do what it says. James compares that to immediately forgetting what our reflection looks like after we walk away from a mirror:

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it” (James 1:22-25, NLT, emphasis added).

There is a me I want to be, the one I’m trusting God to continually raise up, and then there is the me who seems to have mastered the art of self-sabotage, like Paul says in Romans 7:15.

Like today, for instance, rather than breathing in all the goodness of God and overflowing in freedom and peace and love for those around me, I notice I’m lugging around some hefty resentments. I’m lamenting some painful regrets over past choices I’ve made. I’m bracing for potential hazards ahead of me.

This is not exactly the me I am going for when I look in the mirror.

I want beautiful lips, the kind that smile and kiss a skinned knee and speak thoughtfully. The kind that confess and ask forgiveness.

I want strong arms, not for lugging resentments but for lifting up others the way I have been lifted so many times — arms that embrace and link with others through shared trials rather than brace for impact.

I want the coolest shoes, the kind that walk the extra mile with a friend in need. And feet that race to do what is right, what is wise and good, never evil. The kind that bring good news. (Isaiah 52:7)

I want to look in the mirror and see what God sees, not the mess of self that I often see. What He sees — His beloved and marvelous daughter. (Psalm 139:14)

My Father wants the best for me and sees the best in me. He sees my potential alongside my current state of being. When I topple like a toddler learning to walk, He cheers me on, rewarding my effort and reaching to encourage me forward. When I temper-tantrum in defiance, He tells me it’s probably time for a nap. Sometimes I serve a timeout or even suffer a consequence, but it is for my own good and a much-needed reset.

God does the raising. My task is to listen and obey. As I do my part, He will do His. I will come back to the mirror and may even begin to notice that, as I grow, each day I look a little more like Him. May that be true for us all.

My Father, thank You for being my Father. When I look at myself, I want to see You. I want to be Your spitting image! I will keep practicing what it means to listen and obey. Keep growing me so that I reflect You more each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

The Ultimate Father-Son Relationship..Dr. Charles Stanley

 The Ultimate Father-Son Relationship

Dr. Charles Stanley

John 5:19-20

God is called by a variety of names in the Bible, and each one sheds light on an aspect of His nature. Jesus' favorite title for Him was Father. Surprisingly, this name for God is used only 15 times in the Old Testament, but in the New Testament, it's recorded 245 times!

Many of God's names speak of His majestic and lofty attributes that separate Him from mankind, but Father conveys intimacy. Jesus used this name not only because He was God's Son, but also to help people realize that Jehovah isn't some unapproachable Deity gazing down on them from a distance. Rather, He is their loving heavenly Father, who cares about them and wants to be involved in their everyday lives.

Throughout His time on earth, Christ revealed by example what this kind of love relationship was like. He depended completely on His Father for daily direction, power, and provision and obediently carried out every instruction. He often left the demands of ministry just to find a secluded place to be alone with Jehovah. We know Jesus successfully conveyed the riches of this relationship to His disciples, because in John 14:8, Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father"—he wanted to know Him the way Christ did.

Do you long for that kind of intimacy with God?  He wants to relate to you as a Father to His child, and He's given you the privilege of drawing near to Him. In fact, He chose you before the foundation of the world and waits with open arms for you to enter His loving embrace.

3 Reasons to Meet with God in Secret..Shane Heilman

 3 Reasons to Meet with God in Secret

by Shane Heilman, The Psalms Project

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “But you, when you pray, go into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” - Matthew 6:6

Jesus is clear that we are to set aside time for God to privately communicate with him.

Here are 3 reasons from Shane Heilman to have a secret place to spend time with God:

1. Intentionality

We go places with specific purposes in mind. When we go to work, we’re there to work. When we go to the gym, we’re there to work out. When we go to our secret place with God, we should be there to spend time with him, and for no other reason. Going to a specific place for a specific purpose produces the type of intentionality that is sorely lacking in the lives of many Christians.

2. Privacy

The word “closet” that Jesus uses in Matthew 6:6, tameion, is defined in Strong’s Greek Dictionary as a secret chamber, a place where a person may retire for privacy, or a place for storage (like a closet). All three of these concepts unmistakably emphasize that this place should be private and cut off from the comings and goings of the household. It should be a place where the world can be shut out. The reason such privacy is necessary for prayer is clear: Privacy fosters honesty, and honesty fosters relationship.

How can we pray freely and openly with God when there are others nearby, who may disturb us and listen to us pray at any moment? Having a secret meeting place with God prevents any hindrances to the unbroken communion that is essential for meaningful prayer.

3. Intimacy

Intimacy comes right on the heels of privacy. Without the safety of privacy, having any depth of relationship with another person is impossible. Even when intimate friendship or relationship is developed in a group setting, it’s because of a certain privacy that surrounds the group, allowing people to bond without the encumbering presence of outsiders. There is no intimacy without privacy.

Also, the sharing of a special, secret place is an intimate act in itself. If there is a place where you meet with one person, and with nobody else, that place becomes a hallowed sanctuary for the relationship. It becomes more than a place. The thought of sharing that place with another person for similar purposes can even seem blasphemous. Simply going to that special, secret place creates an expectation in itself. In the same way, having a special, secret place to meet with the Father creates an expectation, before we even arrive, that God is already there, eager to meet with us.

A Prayer for When We Feel Overwhelmed..Rev. Kyle Norman

 A Prayer for When We Feel Overwhelmed

By Rev. Kyle Norman

“When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping’, your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:18-19)

It was the Thursday before Easter. We had gathered in our church to reflect on the Last Supper and to celebrate the Eucharist together. For those of us in the Anglican Church, this is one of the most moving services we have. It has always been one of my favorites. On this occasion, things didn’t go as planned.

The service began as it normally does. I welcomed those who gathered and led the opening prayer. We then sat so that we could be attentive to the reading of Scripture. As the first reading was being read, the doors of the sanctuary burst open, and in walked a man who proceeded to spin up and down the aisles of the church. You heard that correctly. With arms in the air and his face turned upward, this man turned in circles as he moved down up and down the aisles of the church. He said nothing, he bothered no one; he just twirled. After 5 minutes, he exited the church. 

One would think this was the only unscheduled event for the service, but not this year. As I began my sermon, I noticed the congregation straining their necks to peer behind me. As it happened, one of our choir members had fainted. I stopped the sermon to check on John. I lead a prayer, thanked God for his lovingkindness toward John, and moved on with the service when it appeared John had recovered. .

Not barely 10 minutes later, John fainted again. Paramedics were called, who arrived just as we were beginning the celebration of Communion. I stood behind the altar to begin the Eucharistic prayer, when the doors of the church flung open. The paramedics marched up the center aisle and parked their stretcher directly in front of the altar. This left me attempting to lead holy communion while the paramedics took John’s vital signs. “The Lord be with you!” - “John, do you know where you are?” “Lift up your voice!” – “how many fingers am I holding up?” “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God” – “John, can you take a deep breath in for me?” 

As all this was going on, I remember feeling hopelessly lost. I had no clue what to do. Here I was, celebrating one of the most meaningful services of the Christian year, and everything was spinning out of control. All my seminary training and biblical knowledge hadn’t prepared me to deal with twirling individuals and fainting choir remembers. I felt completely out of my depth. 

But then there came a sensation that I was not alone. Washing over me as I acknowledged my feelings before the Lord was an assurance of the Lord’s loving presence. It was like Jesus was standing beside me during my confusion. 

Our walk with God isn’t always easy or straightforward. There are times in our spiritual lives when we feel overwhelmed. This might happen during a time of difficulty or struggle or when life goes awry for no apparent reason. No matter the circumstance, in these times, we feel pushed beyond our comfort or ability. We feel lost and confused.

The good news is Jesus remains with us. Jesus is with us when we feel in control and put together and when we don’t. Christ is the rock upon which we stand. This means that we are never swept away by the chaos of life. We are never left alone, struggling to deal with difficulties in our own strength. When we don’t know what to do or how to go forward, Jesus comforts us in his presence. His love enfolds us; his power leads us.

Let us pray: 

Lord of life,
I thank you that I never have to go through life alone. Nothing in my life is hidden from you. You are with me at all times and in all places. You join me in times of celebration, and you walk beside me in times of difficulty and stress. You are steadfast in love and grace. Gracious Father, I come before you today feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. You know what I face in my life. You know the hardship and burdens with which I contend. You know the anxieties that fill my mind and the worries that flood my heart. So, I come to you in faith, claiming the promise of your word. I claim the assurance that your presence holds me up and cheers my soul. 

Jesus, as you were comforted by angels in the Garden of Gethsemane, I pray that your divine comfort would come to me. Give me eyes to see your presence in those places where I may be too distracted to see you; give me ears to hear the whispers of your comfort when my discouragement speaks too loudly, and help me depend on your power when I am tempted to live in my own strength.
I pray this through the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Exercise Your Gift..By Annie Yorty

 Exercise Your Gift

By Annie Yorty

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11, NLT)

Oh, I can’t stand this! Groaning, I tossed and turned on my bed in frustration. Just as it had a million times before, my mind commanded my right hand to flex. But this time, the appendage, packed in layers and layers of gauze encased within a rigid form and covered with a stretchy bandage, refused to obey. The bulky cast dangled at the end of my arm like a heavy bowling pin with four puffy fingertips protruding.

A week out from joint replacement surgery, I already felt claustrophobic, barely able to resist clawing the wrapping off my arm. The pain, initially excruciating, had subsided enough that I yearned to move. To stretch just a bit. To simply use my hand. But, bound and immobile, it seemed disconnected from the command center of my brain. 

My useless hand made me wonder how often I’ve constrained spiritual gifts God graciously gave me when I was born again as His child. His Spirit places these abilities within us for an eternal purpose. They enable us to “do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). 

Apostle Peter lists two of the gifts which may be infused into us by the power of the Holy Spirit—speaking and serving others. We find additional gifts listed in other books of the New Testament—teaching, encouragement, giving, mercy, prophecy, leadership, and more. “It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have” (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT).

God supplies us with the strength to use our gifts. Often, however, like my immobilized hand, there seems to be some disconnect between the power source and implementation. I sometimes find my gifts hanging limp and useless.

At times, a lack of courage prevents me from acting. I’ve been too timid to step out of my comfort zone. Other times, I’ve focused on the gifts of others and judged my Spirit-filled abilities to be insignificant by comparison. I admit I’ve also used my gifts selfishly, tending to my own needs and neglecting to edify others. If these attitudes become habits, my spiritual gifts will languish and even atrophy from disuse.

I don’t want to be a dead weight dragging down the Body of Christ. I’d rather be vibrant and sensitive to the Head of the Body, Jesus Christ, flexing my gifts at His command.

During recovery from surgery, I exercised my hand as it healed. I started by wiggling my swollen fingers to encourage a flow of life-giving blood. As the feeling gradually returned, I stretched and strengthened each digit. When healing stalled, I sought an occupational therapist who specialized in hands. He assigned targeted, repetitive tasks that built up weak areas.

Just as I exercised my hand, we need to use our spiritual gifts. Like my hand therapist, God cheers for us as we start small and gradually increase in flexing our spiritual gifts to do the good things He planned for us from before we were born. When we get stuck in our progress, God shines through our weaknesses by designing circumstances that target our need for growth.

I practiced for months to achieve the goal of all five fingers working together properly. I rejoiced when my right hand finally resumed normal tasks of writing, brushing my teeth, closing buttons, tying shoes, and much more. Life was so much easier!

God created the interdependence of bones, muscles, and tendons in my hand. He also fashions a Body out of all the uniquely complex members of His family. He unifies us to operate under the power of the Holy Spirit. We serve others, perhaps weakly at first, until we become healthy, functional vessels of God’s grace.

How satisfied I felt when I could finally stretch and use my fingers again. But nothing physical will ever compare to the pleasure of exercising our spiritual gifts for God’s glory. 

Intersecting Faith and Life:
What spiritual gifts have you received to serve the Body of Christ? What might be holding you back from exercising your gifts for God’s glory?

Further Reading:
 Romans 12:4-13