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 – The Message)
INITIAL INSIGHTS REGARDING EMOTIONAL SURVIVAL
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
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES TO HELP US THRIVE EMOTIONALLY
PRINCIPLE 1: Be completely honest 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 – Living Bible)
PRINCIPLE 2: Choose to deal with your negative emotions
So whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life . . . (Philippians 3:11 – Living Bible)
PRINCIPLE 3: Filter your feelings through God’s truth
You will know the truth, and that truth will give you freedom. (John 8:32 – The Voice)
PRINCIPLE 4: Refuse to be controlled 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 – Living Bible)
Jesus answered, “Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn’t worth a thing to God’s kingdom!” (Luke 9:62 – Contemporary English Version)
PRINCIPLE 5: Overcoming negative emotions is hard work
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 – Living Bible)
PRINCIPLE 6: We must eliminate negative emotions 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 – New Life Version)
PRINCIPLE 7: We must activate positive thinking in 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 – Living Bible)
. . . 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 – New Century Version)
PRINCIPLE 8: The power to thrive emotionally comes from God
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 – Easy To Read Version)
Let’s Pray