Mastering Your Emotions: Relational Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs

Mastering Your Emotions: Relational Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs
James Long, Jr.

Message Exposition
1. Clarity: Understanding our Emotions

Eight Basic Observations about Emotions
• Emotions are built into all people in all cultures by God’s design (Psalm 32:11)
• Emotions are complex and involve our whole being (Exodus 32:19; 2 Samuel 18:33; Mark 1:41)
• Emotions drive some of our most noble and constructive behaviors (Exodus 2:5-6; Daniel 1:9)
• Emotions can also drive some of our most regrettable and destructive behaviors (Genesis 37:11; Acts 7:54)
• Emotions are not inherently sinful (John 8:29)
• Human emotions are often twisted by sin.
• We have hope for change. Through the gospel, God has redeemed us from the curse of sin (Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
The key steps in redeeming and controlling our emotions are:
• To bring them to God in humility, faith, and prayer
• To examine them in the light of God’s truth
• To ask Him for the grace, wisdom, and strength we need to harness the power of our emotions so that their ultimate impact is to move us to love the Lord with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

2. Capsized by Out-of-Control Emotions

3. Controlling and Mastering Our Emotions (READ Acrostic)

There is hope. With practice, these six essential skills can become habits…
• God-awareness – Remember (Proverbs 9:10)
• God-engagement – Faithfulness (Proverbs 3:5-6)
• Self-awareness – Humility (Proverbs 22:4)
• Self-engagement – Discipline (Proverbs 10:17; 12:1)
• Other-awareness – Compassion (Proverbs 3:3-13)
• Other-engagement – Service (Proverbs 19:17)

READ
Recognize our emotions
Evaluate the source
Anticipate the consequences
Direct them in godly ways

4. Conquering Ungodly Emotions

• Instead of Sinful Anger…Patience and Kindness (Proverbs 14:30; 19:11; 29:22)
• Instead of Pride…Humility and Honesty (Proverbs 3:7; 18:12; 26:12)
• Instead of Unforgiveness and Bitterness…Forgiveness and Freedom (Proverbs 24:17 and 31:6)
• Instead of Depression…Hope and Joy (Proverbs 12:25-28; 15:13)
• Instead of Fear, Anxiety, and Worry…Love and Trust (Proverbs 12:25; 14:10; 18:14)

Three Necessary Attitudes and Action to Conquer Ungodly Emotions
• Honest self-evaluation
• Confession and repentance
• Learn the biblical process

5. Cultivating Godly Emotions
• Renewing our minds
• Worship
• Preaching
• Faith-building relationships
• Word and Prayer
• Reading, Meditating, and Imagination

Questions to Ponder
• What am I feeling? What are my moods and attitudes? Recognize your emotions (Psalm 42:5; Matthew 14:30; Philippians 4:6)
• Why am I feeling this way? Evaluate their sources (Psalm 73:2-3; Proverbs 20:5; James 1:13-15)
• What will happen if I give into these emotions? Anticipate the consequences of following them Proverbs 15:18; 22:3; Colossians 3:5-6)
• How can I redirect my emotions to express them in godly ways? Direct them on a constructive course (Proverbs 15:1; 25:15; John 12:27; Colossians 3:12-13)