5 Emotions You Need to Manage Part III of a series

Today I want to talk about the 5 emotions that every person has to manage. I say 5 because research has shown that all the emotions that we label can be boiled down to these 5.

1. Happiness

• You might not think that you needed to manage happiness but check this verse.

Luke 10:20 (NLT)

20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

• Jesus told the disciples they were happy about the 'wrong' things.  Wow.
• Notice that happiness based on "you" is to be avoided.
• Happiness based on what Jesus has done for you is to be encouraged.
• Much sin is entered into because someone is not able to manage a "happy" moment in their lives and so they feel entitled to do whatever.
• I wonder how many people woke up Monday and regretted their actions of Sunday night just because their team, the Packers, won the Super Bowl. 
• Managing happiness is being sure to be happy about the right kind of things.

2. Sadness

Luke 18:23-24 (NLT)

23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24 When Jesus saw how sad the man was, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!

• Jesus saw his sadness.  It obviously wasn't about the money.
• Disappointments, discouragement, unmet expectations all can send us into a state of depression.
• Sadness unmanaged leads to depression.
• Depression is the #1 reason why people miss work. 
• Huge $$$ is spent medicating those who can't manage this emotion of sadness.
• You can overcome sadness by being thankful and giving praise.

3. Anger

Ephesians 4:26 (NLT)

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

• It's all about who's in control, you or the emotion.
• Don't let anger control you.
• Probably more jobs have been lost, relationships broken, bridges have been burned because of outburst of anger. 
• Anger is an inner pressure that builds up because things do go like you want them to go.  It has to be released.
• If it comes out in words/actions then damage is almost always done or you can release it by forgiving. 
• You can choose to manage you anger by choosing to forgive.  Remember that forgiveness is choice you make in faith not a feeling.

4. Fear

Psalm 55:4-6 (NLT)

4 My heart pounds in my chest. The terror of death assaults me. 5 Fear and trembling overwhelm me, and I can’t stop shaking. 6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!

• Fear is another emotion that needs to be managed.  
• Fear is left unmanaged cause us to run away from issues that we need to face.
• Most times when God interacted with people He said to them, "Fear not". 
• It's the anxiety that we feel as if something bad will happen, when there is no real reason for it.
• Fear not dealt with causes us to stay in places God never intended for us to stay.
• The only solution is to obey the Lord even if you are afraid.  
• Fear will disappear when you obey anyway and realize that it was only the emotion of fear trying to keep you from being obedient.

5. Shame

1 John 3:20 (NLT)

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

• All of us have said or done something that causes us to feel shame afterwards. 
• How do we handle it?  Many quit attending rather than deal with the shame of past mistakes.
• God is greater than our feelings.  What a great verse!  Knowing and believing what God says about you should trump your feelings every day.
• Jesus broke the power of guilt on the cross.  You don't have to live with those feelings anymore.
• God's word has greater significance than our feelings.  

It's only natural for us to be controlled by our emotions, I mean they feel so real.  When we are born again, we begin a life of faith.  I was born emotional, but I'm born again faithful.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you manage those emotions that are keeping you from living your dream.