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Author: Memos Sakellariou

[Romans 8:6,8]
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace… Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The pressures we experience, as well as the inner turmoil we feel, primarily stem from our emotions. Our emotions have such an influence over us that they can disturb our minds! In other words, I can experience a day of “hell” simply because I felt something. The key, however, to achieving peace and clarity of thought is to learn how to deal with everything we feel.

I will give you 4 important reasons why we need to bring our emotions under control.

1. Emotions are often unreliable
Many times, our emotions are wrong and lead us into traps. These are traps that, essentially, corrupt our minds, filling them with negative thoughts so powerful that they can lead us to ruin. I cannot let everything depend on how I feel.

{Prov. 14:12}
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
This verse is both frightening and thought-provoking, because essentially the Word tells me that I should not accept everything I feel, as what I feel may not be genuine, correct, or authentic. For if I only listen to and follow my emotions, I will surely be led in the wrong direction.

2. You do not want to be manipulated
If you do not bring your emotions under control, then they will control you. This will result in your life being manipulated by your fluctuating moods. Furthermore, if you are always guided by your emotions, others will take advantage of you. The worst part is that negative emotions are one of Satan’s most powerful tools: he will use fear, revenge, bitterness, malice, and of course, anxiety to sink and crush your life.
{1 Pet. 5:8}
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

3. You desire to please God
God cannot govern your life if it is controlled by your emotions. If you make your decisions based on how you feel, then you have turned your emotions into a god. Consequently, God has no room to be your God in your life.
{Rom. 8:6,8}
“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace… Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

4. You desire to succeed in your life
Through numerous studies, experts have concluded that emotional maturity and balance are far more important factors than IQ when it comes to an individual’s success. How many people do you know who ruined their reputation because they said something in great anger? Or lost a professional opportunity due to a lack of self-control?
The Bible tells us:
{Prov. 5:23}
“He will die for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he will go astray.”

When we decided to follow Jesus, this decision also included our emotions. Jesus desires to be Lord over how you feel, not just over what you think and what you do. He desires to be Lord of your emotions.

{1 Pet. 4:2}
“so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”
Therefore, examine how much you base your decisions on your emotions. Learn to discern when an emotion is right or wrong. Above all, however, learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Find a way to train yourself in this. Consider which of your emotions you believe you should surrender to the Lord today for cleansing.