When we let our emotions control us, we are susceptible to all kinds of ungodly outcomes. Join us as we take a look at what we can do to keep our focus on Jesus during even the most emotionally charged situations.
UNCOMMEN
Day 1
Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:5-9, Proverbs 29:11
When I Let My Emotions Control Me
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) — “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”
When we let our emotions control us, we are susceptible to all kinds of ungodly outcomes. In 2 Peter 1:8-9, it states, “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”
Now I know what you are thinking, “I don’t let my emotions control me…I’m a man”.
- Competitiveness
- Anger
- Speech
- Violence
- Pouting
- Defensiveness
- Insecurity
- Ego
Does any of this sound familiar? Does it sound like you? These are all things that men often struggle with and it’s the polar opposite of what 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us to strive after.
So, let’s assume that men can have emotions as well. We may not realize that we allow them to have more control over us than we think.
Reacting vs. Self-control
In today’s hypersensitive culture, it seems we feel we must react to everything we see or read. If we see a news segment, we think we must respond somehow. If we read a social post that we disagree with, we must respond with our opinion to correct the injustice.
Some things require a reaction. Most don’t.
Proverbs 29:11 – “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”
Having self-control would allow us to pause, pray about it, and respond to the situation through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the heat of the moment, this may seem impossible. However, because of the Holy Spirit, it is possible. We can be people who are known as being self-controlled.
Where do these qualities mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7 start? It starts with supplementing your faith with virtue and virtue with knowledge. We must know the Bible! We must know Jesus! Let’s spend time in the Word, diligently.
Uncommen Questions:
Do you let the news or social media trigger your responses?
Do you take time to pray, reflect, and respond as the Holy Spirit directs?
Uncommen Challenge:
I challenge us to reexamine how we let our emotions control us.
Day 2
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 10:13, Matthew 5:28, Proverbs 23:20-21, Proverbs 11:2, 1 Timothy 6:10, Galatians 5:26, Proverbs 13:4, Psalms 37:8
When Temptation Seems Too Much To Bear
1 Corinthians 10:13 — “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Temptation comes in multiple forms:
- Lust (Matthew 5:28)
- Gluttony (Proverbs 23:20-21)
- Pride (Proverbs 11:2)
- Greed (1 Timothy 6:10)
- Envy (Galatians 5:26)
- Sloth (Proverbs 13:4)
- Wrath (Psalm 37:8)
You may know these as the seven deadly sins.
Lust: This is one that hits guys right where we live. We were created to be attracted to women, but we get into trouble when we lust after every woman we see. We don’t do ourselves any favors by watching movies, advertisements, or surfing the wrong sites. Let’s rethink what triggers us to desire.
Gluttony: Being from New Orleans, great food is a way of life. We even have festivals around particular food like crawfish. But just as the saying goes, everything in moderation. Overeating not only has an impact on our health and other desires, but it’s also sinful. Let’s rethink what triggers us to consume.
Pride: Men, brace your egos because this is going to sting a bit. We can be a prideful bunch. We act like four-year-old in certain situations. We tie our pride to our bank accounts, cars, houses, and even our self-esteem. Let’s rethink what triggers us to be content.
Greed: In a “he who dies with the most wins,” culture, it’s no wonder people struggle with greed. If I had to edit that phrase, I would say, “he who dies without Christ is lost.” Let’s rethink what triggers us to materialism.
Envy: If you try to keep up with the Jones’s on social media, you’ll die trying and probably end up in debt when you do. Just because you see someone have something valuable doesn’t mean they were blessed with it. They may be in debt because of it. They may be trying to keep up with their own set of Jones’s. Let’s rethink what triggers us to jealousy.
Sloth: My mother taught me the lesson of a great work ethic by setting an example. Thanks, Mom. One day your children will mimic what they see, and I pray they see a Godly man that works and provides for his family. Let’s rethink what triggers us to be lazy.
Wrath: Anger seems to be the go-to for many, and I wonder why people start with anger in most relationships. Maybe it’s an insecurity reflex to help protect themselves from getting hurt. Perhaps it’s a heart condition that reflects a lost soul. Either way, this society seems very angry about many things. Let’s rethink what triggers us to anger.
Uncommen Questions:
Do you suffer from any of these sins? Some or all?
What are you doing about it?
Uncommen Challenge:
I challenge us to reexamine our hearts in light of these sins and repent to God.
Day 3
Scriptures: Matthew 6:34, 1 Peter 5:7, John 14:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:16
When My Anxiety Is All I Have
Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
As Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel’s Song of Silence says, “hello darkness my old friend.”
Many things can trigger anxiety:
- Health Issues (Cancer or a chronic illness)
- Medications (OTC), birth control, cough medications, weight loss medications
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)
- Skipping meals (blood sugar drops)
- Negative thinking (how you think of yourself and others)
- Financial concerns (debt, buyer’s remorse, not having money)
- Parties or social events (strangers, groups)
- Conflict (relationships, arguments, violence)
- Stress (bills, traffic, work, family)
- Public events (public speaking, reading aloud, competition)
- Personal triggers (PTSD, smells, places, songs, people)
As you can see, many things can trigger anxiety. Let’s revisit our verse in the gospel of Matthew:
Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. “
Anxiety is real and it’s troublesome for many, but we must be honest with ourselves. Most of us fail miserably at replicating Matthew 6:34. We are constantly anxious and worrisome.
So how do we overcome anxiety?
Yes, some things deserve our attention and prayer. Some issues warrant help from Godly counsel, a professional, and perhaps medication. However, when I spend too much time in my head, I can chase all kinds of thoughts, what-ifs, and fears. Most of these will never come to fruition.
When I find myself dwelling on these kind of thoughts, I pull out my Bible and get into God’s word. It doesn’t matter where in the Bible. I just let God’s Word wash over me and minister to my soul.
If I can meditate on the Word of God more than I spend time on my phone, social media, or TV, I believe I put myself in a much better position to deal with anxiety.
Uncommen Questions:
How can you prepare yourself to handle stress and anxiety?
Is the Word of God the first thing you turn to in times of anxiety or is it down the list?
Uncommen Challenge:
I challenge us to spend more time in God’s Word, preparing our hearts and minds for the trouble of the day.
Day 4
Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 10:5, Matthew 6:22, John 14:26
The Power Of An Uncaptured Thought
The danger of a wandering mind can be quite the pitfall when it comes to being triggered.
Example: You’re driving with your wife, and your mind starts to wander, and out of the blue, you say, “I can’t believe the Jones’s are on another vacation. They must be made of money.” (envy, judgment, covetousness, gossip, not loving your neighbor, etc.)
You probably weren’t even talking about that family, but a sinful thought escaped your mind and came out of your mouth.
Example: You are watching an R-rated movie or series and a graphic scene appears.
As you can see, it’s relatively easy to find yourself in an unforeseen mental battle with thoughts. You’ve probably heard the statement, “your mind is the ultimate battlefield.” There are teams of people who study our behaviors to put advertisements in front of us because they know how we will respond.
Satan does the same thing. He knows our weaknesses all too well and gently walks us into situations that encourage us to sin. So what are we to do?
As always, let’s go to our scripture – 2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
When it comes to what we consume, we should also consider Matthew 6:22 – “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,”
How can we take our thoughts captive to be obedient to Christ? Before entertaining a sinful thought, let’s stop. “This isn’t glorifying God.” or “This would cause me to sin.”
You’re probably thinking… “how on earth can I do that?” The Holy Spirit. Be lead by the Holy Spirit and read your Bible. Remember, John 14:26 – “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. “
Uncommen Questions:
When you find your mind wandering, do you take that thought captive or do you follow where it leads?
Do you set up boundaries for yourself to help keep yourself out of bad mental situations?
Uncommen Challenge:
I challenge us to take measures to grasp every thought captive. Let the Holy Spirit be the buffer between you and those types of thoughts.
Day 5
Scriptures: Proverbs 15:1, Psalms 37:8, James 4:6, James 1:19, Psalms 115:3, James 3:4-6
Do My Words Glorify God?
I want to say I’ve spent the better part of my 52 years glorifying God and spreading the Gospel of Christ. Unfortunately, I’ve probably spent more time sticking my foot in my mouth than I care to say. I coined the term “Candy Feet” some time back. It describes people like myself who stick their feet in their mouths continually.
Based on the news and social media, I would wager that I’m not the only one who suffers from this. While it may not be intentional in some situations, it is often very deliberate, and it shows.
Angry Andy: Do you cause drama everywhere you go? We’d be wise to consider Psalm 37:8 – “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
Smarty Sam: Do you struggle with pride or thinking you’re the smartest while everyone else struggles to keep up? James 4:6 – “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Keyboard Ken: Do you give your opinion on… everything? James 1:19 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”
Political Pete: Are you someone who argues about politics at every chance? We should be humble in the way we speak with one another. After all, God is in control no matter the candidate or party in power. Psalm 115:3 – “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”
Uncommen Questions:
Do you control your speech or do you let your speech control you?
Do you feel you have to be right all the time? Why?
Uncommen Challenge:
I challenge us to examine our speech and ask ourselves whether it glorifies God or us.