emotions, obedience, relationships & thinking
section 1
Emotions carry a strong influence on our thinking as how we feel is often an obstacle to living in the Truth and thinking in the Truth jeremiah 17:9 , but because of our Lord we are not subjects to our emotions, rather we can learn to master them genesis 4:6-7 . Emotions are fine servants, but they are terrible masters psalm 4:4 proverbs 14:29 . Our hearts are not the standard of Truth, so we cannot make an assessment of our true state by how we feel, good or bad i corinthians 4:3-4 .
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
my notes:
Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude
People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord Himself Who will examine me and decide.
my notes:
section 2
Our identity is something we think we make up ourselves isaiah 47:8 , but identity is really nothing more than our relationship with our surroundings, to one another and especially to God galatians 4:6-9 . Sadly, we identify ourselves through how we feel far more than the reality of our relationships; just because we feel a certain way does not make it so i corinthians 12:15-16 .
"Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’
Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
my notes:
section 3
So, we need to learn how to assess our relationships from Truth rather than simply by how we feel i john 3:18-20 . Sure, emotions can be symptomatic of your circumstances, but they also may just be human frailty. The true diagnosis of the Truth of your relationships are diagnosed and treated by the Great Physician through the Word jeremiah 3:22 .
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
"My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to Me, and I will heal your wayward hearts." "Yes, we’re coming," the people reply, "for You are the LORD our God.
my notes:
section 4
We should understand that not all negative emotions are wicked john 11:33 nor are all positive emotions godly proverbs 17:19 proverbs 10:23 . Some sorrows and pains are inflicted by others’ sins and/or are the results of living in a sin cursed world. Negative emotions are more often the appropriate response to this world isaiah 53:3 and even our own sin james 4:9-10 .
While the goal is not to rid ourselves of negative emotions, those unpleasant feelings are minimized by godliness or intensified by ungodliness i thessalonians 4:13 . So, it is helpful to remember that Truth is not dictated by your emotions, but rather your emotions can be beneficially dealt with by Truth. Hence, it is vital to think rightly and to practice Truth to overcome any deception and unfruitfulness from our emotions i corinthians 14:14-20 so that we may be made whole rather than live disabled james 1:2-4 ephesians 4:15-16 hebrews 12:13 colossians 1:28-29 .
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled.
Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
my notes:
As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool, so wisdom is for a person of understanding.
He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
my notes:
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, Who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
my notes:
examples of emotions augmented by faith or doubt
| Faith & Obedience | Doubt & Disobedience |
| Romans 5:1-5- Hope | Genesis 4:5-7- Depression |
| Job 6:10- Joy | I Timothy 6:10- Grief |
| Philippians 4:4-9- Peace | Proverbs 28:1- Fear |
| Matthew 11:28-30- Strength | Psalm 32:3-4- Sorrow, Heaviness, Weakness |
| I Peter 1:22- Love | I John 2:9-11- Hatred |
| Psalm 119:165- Peace | Isaiah 57:20-21- Turmoil |
| Proverbs 17:27- Stability & Calmness | James 1:6-8, Leviticus 26:36- Instability & Panic |
| I John 3:18-22- Restfulness | Deuteronomy 28:65- Agitation |
| Psalm 16:8-9- Gladness, Courage, Stability | Psalm 1:4- Perpetual Instability |
| Proverbs 28:1- Courage & Confidence | Romans 14:22-23- Doubt and Hesitation |
| Psalm 119:128- Hating Wrong Paths | Proverbs 10:23- Love Doing Wrong |
| Psalm 119:167- Love the Word | Romans 8:7- Hates the Word |
| Philippians 2:3- Humility | Proverbs 21:4- Pride |
| Proverbs 13:4- Satisfaction | Ephesians 4:19, I John 2:16- Lustful Dissatisfaction |
| Ecclesiastes 2:26- Joy & Happiness | Psalm 16:4- Increasing Sorrow |
| Romans 12:2- Pleased | Ecclesiastes 7:9- Angry |
| Romans 12:15- Selfless Joy | James 3:14-16- Envy, Selfishness |
| Philippians 2:1-4- Unity & Harmony | Jude 18-19- Division |
| Isaiah 26:7-9- Loving Desire for God | Romans 8:7, John 3:20- Hate for God |
section 5
Our thinking needs to come from Truth to Truth through Truth so that we may be enabled to relate lovingly to each other in holiness and sincerity ii corinthians 1:12 and have a fruitful, loving relationship with our Heavenly Father romans 8:5-6, 13-18 hebrews 4:14-16 .
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Since then we have a great high priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
my notes:
section 6
So, do not make the mistake of equating emotions with love. This will be a frustration to you in your thinking. Love is defined by the Truth of Jesus i john 3:16 . Biblical love DOES involve emotion and those emotions should not be squelched or artificially separated from Biblical love {i.e. sorrow for sin james 4:9-10 , joy in forgiveness psalm 30:10-11 , indignation ii corinthians 11:29 , compassion matthew 9:36 john 11:33-35 }, but at its core love is not about emotions as much it is being like Jesus i john 2:3-6 Whose love was an ongoing, thoughtful, willful devotion to sacrifice Himself romans 5:6-8 , His will matthew 26:39 , and His desires john 5:30 for the glory of the Father john 17:4 i corinthians 10:31 and the eternal benefit of others mark 10:45 i corinthians 10:32-11:1, 13:4-8 i peter 1:22 in accordance with the Truth of the Scriptures john 19:28 i john 5:2-3 ii john 6 ; not necessarily in accord with how He felt john 12:27-28 .
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
my notes:
Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever!
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. And He said, "Where have you laid him?"
They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept.
my notes:
And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. Whoever says "I know Him" but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
By Myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, for I seek not to please Myself but Him Who sent Me.
my notes:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
my notes:
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, "I am thirsty."
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
"Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!" Then a voice came from Heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."
my notes:
section 7
Though emotions are powerful influences in our lives ecclesiastes 8:6 . Those emotions are better understood as more instinctual and reactionary than mindful and proactive jude 10 . Sure, emotions are helpful in their appropriate use james 5:13 but are detrimental when trusted in leviticus 26:36 ii peter 2:12 rather than taking the Word and applying it thoughtfully to our circumstances psalm 56:3 . Do not let your emotions master you ii peter 2:19, 22 , but rather be the master over your emotions i corinthians 6:12 , which does not mean you can necessarily dictate how you feel, but you can choose godliness despite how you feel which as we’ve looked at can beneficially augment your emotions. We are to be thinking creatures more than feeling creatures.
For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.
But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.
my notes:
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
I will put anxiety in the hearts of those of you who survive in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a wind-driven leaf will put them to flight, and they will flee as one flees from a sword, and fall though no one is pursuing them.
These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed.
my notes:
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud."
"I have the right to do anything," you say—but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"—but I will not be mastered by anything.
my notes:
section 8
So, talk about your feelings, perspectives, weaknesses, etc. with each other ii corinthians 6:11-13 james 5:16 because talking about those puts thought to your emotions and inner-self malachi 3:13-16 and answering life’s moments with Scripture fosters more and more Biblical thinking, more understanding deuteronomy 6:6-7 . Often, we do not think about how we feel or how we are reacting until we talk about it. As we talk about it with each other in a prayerful, earnest way, we are ushered into the Lord’s presence in the midst of conversation, thinking and prayer matthew 18:19-20 because the simple act of talking honestly and openly is the Truth that God desires to participate in psalm 51:6 . Thus, we are joined by God and built up by Him luke 24:14-15, 32 as we address each other Biblically ephesians 4:29 colossians 4:6 .
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.my notes:
my notes:
"You have said terrible things about Me," says the LORD. "But you say, ‘What do you mean? What have we said against you?’
"You have said, ‘What’s the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the LORD of Heaven’s Armies that we are sorry for our sins? From now on we will call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.’ "
Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them."
Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
my notes:
...they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?"
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
my notes:
Scripture quotations taken from one or more of the following versions as noted:
ESV = The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
NIV = The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973 1978 1984 2011 by Biblica, Inc. TM Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NLT = The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
NASB = NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), Copyright (C) 1960,1962,1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
HCSB = Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Used by Permission HCSB ©1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
NKJV = New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.