You Can THRIVE Em otionally Series – THRIVE – Part 3 Pastor Chuck Bernal – 01-11-15
That's the way it is with us. Just beneath the protective bark, the concealing, protective mask, are the recorded rings of our lives. There are scars of ancient, painful hurts. In the rings of our thoughts and emotions, the record is there; the memories are recorded, and all are alive. They directly and deeply affect our concepts, our feelings, our relationships. They affect the way we look at life and God, at others and ourselves. For many of us, uncovering the recorded memories of our past is very painful. And we will do almost anything to avoid pain. We'll dull it, ignore it, excuse it, bury it, eat it we just don't want to have to feel it and deal with it. But the truth is, healing begins at the point of our pain. (David Seamands) The enemy comes to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:10 – Msg)
INITIAL INSIGHTS REGARDING EM O TIO NAL SURVIVAL Most of us live our lives struggling with ________________________ emotions Emotional struggles impact our lives in many ______________________ ways We think our emotional struggles are _________________ & _______________ God wants us to _____________ emotionally, not just ____________________ Emotional struggles can be _____________________________ with God’s help PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO HELP US THRIVE EM O TIO NALLY PRINCIPLE 1: Be com pletely _____________ about your struggles I don’t mean to say I am perfect. I haven’t learned all I should even yet, but I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be . . . (Philippians 3:12 - LB)
PRINCIPLE 2: _____________ to deal with your negative em otions
So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life . . . (Philippians 3:11 - LB) PRINCIPLE 3: Filter your feelings through God’s ______________ You will know the truth, and that truth will give you freedom. (John 8:32 – The Voice) PRINCIPLE 4: Refuse to be ______________________ by your past But I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead . . . (Philippians 3:13 - LB) Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn’t worth a thing to God’s kingdom!” (Luke 9:62 – CEV) PRINCIPLE 5: Overcom ing negative em otions is _______ _______ I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us. (Philippians 3:14 - LB) PRINCIPLE 6: W e must __________ negative em otions in our lives Banish bitterness, rage and anger, shouting and slander, and any and all malicious thoughts—these are poison. (Ephesians 4:31 – The Voice) Put out of your life all these things: bad feelings about other people, anger, temper, loud talk, bad talk which hurts other people, and bad feelings which hurt other people. (Ephesians 4:31 – NLV) PRINCIPLE 7: W e m ust ______________ positive thinking our lives And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. (Philippians 4:8 – LB) . . . be changed from within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God . . . (Romans 12:2 - NCV) PRINCIPLE 8: The power to thrive em otionally com es from _____ The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 - ETRV)
INITIAL INSIGHTS REGARDING O UR EM O TIO NAL STRUGGLES Most of us live our lives struggling with negative emotions Emotional struggles impact our lives in many different ways We think our emotional struggles are permanent & irreversible God wants us to thrive emotionally, not just survive Emotional struggles can be overcome with God’s help
PRINCIPLE 1: Be com pletely honest about your struggles PRINCIPLE 2: Choose to deal with your negative em otions PRINCIPLE 3: Filter your feelings through God’s truth PRINCIPLE 4: Refuse to be controlled by your past PRINCIPLE 5: Overcom ing negative em otions is hard work PRINCIPLE 6: W e m ust eliminate negative em otions in our lives PRINCIPLE 7: W e m ust activate positive thinking our lives PRINCIPLE 8: The power to thrive em otionally com es from God
And that's the way it is with us. Just beneath the protective bark, the concealing, protective mask, are the recorded rings of our lives. There are scars of ancient, painful hurts. In the rings of our thoughts and emotions, the record is there; the memories are recorded, and all are alive. And they directly and deeply affect our concepts, our feelings, our relationships. They affect the way we look at life and God, at others and ourselves. For many of us, uncovering the recorded memories of our past is very painful. And we will do almost anything to avoid pain. We'll dull it, ignore it, excuse it, bury it, eat it - we just don't want to have to feel it and deal with it. But the truth is, healing begins at the point of our pain. (David Seamands)