Harnessing Your Emotions Part 9

You may have love, joy, and peace, but what about longsuffering? When you get angry at someone, your spirit is not short-fused. Your spirit is capable of operating in longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance, and all of the other fruit of the Spirit.

If you are battling something like your weight or your eating habits and you say, "I just can't seem to control myself," you just identified the problem. You are operating in the flesh, because the spirit has temperance. You're right - you cannot control your self, self, but the spirit is able to discipline the flesh. Your spirit isn't dominated by l.u.s.t and desire. but the spirit is able to discipline the flesh. Your spirit isn't dominated by l.u.s.t and desire.

The answer is simply to say, "Father, I'm sorry. I'm operating in the flesh again." Repent and start thinking and meditating on who you are in Christ, thanking G.o.d that you have His life and His Spirit on the inside of you. Your spirit is able to control what you eat. As you begin to think that way, your emotions and actions will begin to follow.

You are already a complete person in Christ Jesus. You don't need any improvement. When you go to be with the Lord, you aren't going to have to be dusted off in your spirit realm. You won't have to be changed, refurbished, patched up, or plugged up. Your spirit is sanctified, perfected, and sealed. It's holy. It's pure. There's nothing wrong there. That makes it so easy to walk in the spirit.

Go to G.o.d's Word and find out what your spirit is really like, then realize that is who you are. Any time you feel or act contrary to your spirit, you are in the flesh. All you have to do is say, "No wonder I'm having problems. The reason I'm not experiencing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, or any of the other fruit of the Spirit is because I'm in the flesh."

Now you may be thinking, But its natural for me to react the way I do -just look at what I'm going through. But its natural for me to react the way I do -just look at what I'm going through. If it's If it's natural, natural, that's the flesh. Your born-again self is not natural, it's that's the flesh. Your born-again self is not natural, it's supernatural. supernatural. It is totally the workmans.h.i.+p of G.o.d. When you find yourself operating in the natural and in the flesh, you need to repent. Quit trying to improve your old, dead flesh. Instead, change your perception of your new redeemed self. Begin to confess, "I'm not going to be that old man anymore. Even though these things come against me, they don't bother me. If I forget and get angry, I don't get upset. I don't feel condemned. I don't get discouraged." It is totally the workmans.h.i.+p of G.o.d. When you find yourself operating in the natural and in the flesh, you need to repent. Quit trying to improve your old, dead flesh. Instead, change your perception of your new redeemed self. Begin to confess, "I'm not going to be that old man anymore. Even though these things come against me, they don't bother me. If I forget and get angry, I don't get upset. I don't feel condemned. I don't get discouraged."

If someone does you wrong, don't get into self-pity or anger. As soon soon as you start having thoughts like that, say, "Whoops, that's the flesh. That's my old self, because my born-again self doesn't get offended or indulge in self-pity." Then turn to the Lord and say, "Father, forgive me for getting into the flesh. I haven't been meditating on You. I haven't been thinking on what I should. I have been operating in the flesh, living in the natural realm, listening to the wrong things, thinking the wrong thoughts, and here I am, reaping the results. So I repent." as you start having thoughts like that, say, "Whoops, that's the flesh. That's my old self, because my born-again self doesn't get offended or indulge in self-pity." Then turn to the Lord and say, "Father, forgive me for getting into the flesh. I haven't been meditating on You. I haven't been thinking on what I should. I have been operating in the flesh, living in the natural realm, listening to the wrong things, thinking the wrong thoughts, and here I am, reaping the results. So I repent."

Get into the Word. That's what I do. I start praying and meditating on who I am and thinking about what G.o.d has done for me. And do you know what happens? Love begins to flow through me instead of anger. Joy begins to flow through me instead of depression. Peace and longsuffering start flowing through me instead of worry and anxiety. It happens every time.

Let the Peace of G.o.d Rule Let the peace of G.o.d rule in your hearts.

Colossians 3:15

Some people have trouble recognizing whether or not they are flowing in the spirit, or whether they are doing the right thing or not. That is easily determined. Your spirit always has love, joy, peace, long-suffering, and all the other fruit of the Spirit. Your flesh very seldom has these things. Paul gives us the answer in Colossians 3:15: Let the peace of G.o.d rule in your hearts. Let the peace of G.o.d rule in your hearts. Now this takes awhile to experience. It takes some growth. You have to mature so you are able to distinguish between the things of the flesh and the things of the spirit. Now this takes awhile to experience. It takes some growth. You have to mature so you are able to distinguish between the things of the flesh and the things of the spirit.

In doubtful situations, consider your options. If you have worry, fear, or anxiety within, that is the flesh. But if you have peace within, a peace that you may not understand, a peace that may not make sense to you, and a peace that you may not be able to prove to anyone else, that is the spirit.

Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to G.o.d always].

Colossians 3:15 AMP AMP

You may have questions. Your peace may not be one hundred percent, because you are not yet one hundred percent in tune to your spirit. But once you discern that peace, let it rule. Let it overcome any objection just as an umpire makes a call and sticks with it. Let your peace have the final say. Follow that peace and you will be following your spirit man.

You walk in the spirit as you walk in the peace of G.o.d, and as you do so, it becomes a tremendous influence in your life.

Emotional Stability Guaranteed Believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

1 Peter 1:8 This verse is saying that when we are in faith, the emotion of joy unspeakable and hill of glory follows. If that joy isn't present, it's because we are believing or focusing on something other than what G.o.d's Word says about our born-again self. We're in unbelief instead of faith.

There is so much more to share on this subject, but I believe I have laid the foundation. I encourage you to go to G.o.d's Word and start discovering your true ident.i.ty, finding out who you are in Christ. As you do that and begin to renew your mind, focusing it on the new born-again you, you will bring those things that are already true in your spirit out into the physical, emotional realm. As you think, your emotions will follow.

As you think in your heart, so are you. That's the way it is, and the way it will always be. If you are spiritually minded, it will produce life and peace. (See Romans 8:6.) If you keep your mind stayed upon the Lord, He will keep you in perfect peace. (See Isaiah 26:3.) It's just that simple.

Meditate on these truths until you get the proper self-image, which is the revelation of who you are in Christ. Focus your attention and base your life on that concept. Your emotions and your actions will never be the same again.

This book comes with a money-back, unconditional guarantee that if you live the message in it, it will make you emotionally stable. If you will believe it and live it, you will live your life rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Conclusion

We were created with emotions and have been given the power through Jesus Christ to control them. We are to accept that responsibility and learn how to properly release those emotions. The answer to harnessing our emotions is not found in the world's psychology, but rather by choosing to apply the Word of G.o.d in faith. Look at your circ.u.mstances and situations in the light of eternity and you will see they are only for a moment. We are more than conquerors over everything the world throws our way, and we need to begin seeing ourselves that way.

Psychology tries to help us develop a good self-image to make us feel good about ourselves. That concept can provide some immediate relief, but it is not the answer and our self will ultimately fail. We are to find our self-esteem in Jesus, which means denying our own selves, taking up our cross daily, and following Him.

If you have read this book but still do not truly know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way, the principles I have set forth will not work for you, except to a limited degree. You may experience some relief, but just being positive in your thinking is not the answer to your deepest need, which is to become a new person in Christ and receive His life in your spirit. If you aren't a totally new person, then regardless of how positive your thinking is, it won't change anything.

Positive thinking is not the answer. You must be born again You must be born again (John 3:7). (John 3:7).

You may already believe that Jesus Christ exists, but have you ever committed yourself to Him and trusted Him one hundred percent? If you were to stand before G.o.d right now and He asked you, "What makes you worthy?" would you point to yourself? Would you point to your morality, to your actions, or to how good you have been? Or would you point to Jesus and say, "I am trusting Him"? Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of G.o.d. We all need a Savior. may already believe that Jesus Christ exists, but have you ever committed yourself to Him and trusted Him one hundred percent? If you were to stand before G.o.d right now and He asked you, "What makes you worthy?" would you point to yourself? Would you point to your morality, to your actions, or to how good you have been? Or would you point to Jesus and say, "I am trusting Him"? Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of G.o.d. We all need a Savior.

If you have never made Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior, you need to make a commitment to Him today. Do as the scripture says, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that G.o.d raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved. (See Romans 10:9.) That means more than just acknowledging that He exists or that He was a historical figure. It means committing yourself to Him, making Him your Lord and Master, Ruler of your life. It means putting your faith in Him to save you from your sin and to direct your life now and forever.

When you do that, a transformation takes place on the inside - you become a brand-new person. You may not feel it physically, because the actual new birth is not something you feel. It can't be proven based on feelings. It is something that is taken by faith in G.o.d.

When you commit yourself to G.o.d and to His Word - reading it, understanding it, and living it - this new life will begin to manifest itself in your emotions and in your physical body. You will have victory over your emotions by choosing to rejoice in the Lord despite your circ.u.mstances, trusting Him to bring you through whatever comes your way in this life.

Pray the following prayer in simple faith and you will become a brand-new person, a brand-new creature in Christ Jesus.

Father, I acknowledge that I've sinned and cannot save myself. Jesus is my only hope of salvation. Right now I put my faith in Him. I make Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. I believe that You have forgiven me all my sins. I believe that Jesus is alive from the dead and He now comes and lives in me so I can become a new person in Him. I believe it and I thank You for it in the name of Jesus. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer with your mouth and meant meant it in it in your your heart, then that spiritual transformation has taken place on the inside of you. You are now born again. You are a brand-new person - a totally new creature. The rest of the Christian life is learning to understand what has taken place within you and living it out day by day. heart, then that spiritual transformation has taken place on the inside of you. You are now born again. You are a brand-new person - a totally new creature. The rest of the Christian life is learning to understand what has taken place within you and living it out day by day.

Now that you have made that decision for Christ, you need to go on and renew your mind. Start identifying with who you are in Christ, esteeming Him on the inside, and recognizing that He has given you control over your emotions so you can live in peace of mind and heart, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

About the Author

An drew Wommack was brought up in a Christian home in Arlington, Texas, and made a total commitment of his life to the Lord at a very early age. But it was not until he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a teenager that he began to experience the power of G.o.d in his life. drew Wommack was brought up in a Christian home in Arlington, Texas, and made a total commitment of his life to the Lord at a very early age. But it was not until he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a teenager that he began to experience the power of G.o.d in his life.

Since that time, he has served as pastor of three churches in progressive steps to the ministry G.o.d has called him to fulfill: teaching the entire Body of Christ the good news of our New Testament relations.h.i.+p with Jesus Christ.

Andrew is fulfilling this calling as he travels throughout the world sharing the simple truths of G.o.d's Word with people of various backgrounds. He is heard on radio stations across America and has distributed over three million ca.s.sette tapes of his teachings free of charge.