When Imaginations Run Wild How to Manage Uncontrolled Emotions 6-9-26

Roll with the flow – Surrendering!

Many of the readers heard the song:

“It’s Just My Imagination Running Away With Me” [Temptations].

In the spiritual realm we have emotions that run high and they can get out of control if we don’t allow the Spirit of God to help us. Although the excerpt from the Temptations’ song was secular, it had meaning.

You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase, and have earnestly, fervently prayed; but you cannot have rest or be perfectly blest until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid? Your heart does the Spirit control? You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest, as you yield Him your body and soul. Author: E. A. Hoffman- Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929).

This is an old, old hymn which is still meaningful today. I love the old hymns and old time Gospel songs because they have so much meaning and they relate to the Word of God. 

My point today is, if we allow our emotions to take control, we’re not allowing the Spirit of God to have control. So, what results from that? Whatever comes up comes out- no filter! This is a mark of immaturity. As we grow in Christ, more fruit should be seen in our lives (John 15:5).

The first fruit is Love; another aspect of this will be posted soon.

(2) No Joy? How can anyone experience joy when they are allowing their emotions to take over? No joy? Jesus wants our joy to remain and be full (John 15:11).

(3) No Peace? Jesus provides perfect peace to those who keep their minds on Him, because they trust in Jesus (Isaiah 26:3). How can anyone have peace when they are acting in flesh instead of letting Jesus give true peace?

(4) Patience should be prevalent- let patience have its perfect work (James 1:4). Perfect work means the person is maturing in their walk.

(5) Gentleness –And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32).

(6) Goodness should be to all people, even those who hate you- But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). It may seem difficult, but Jesus did it and so can we!

(7) Faith – saving faith is what God gave us; He expects us to grow in faith.  So, Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you (Mark17:20).

(8) Meekness is another word for gentleness and humility. When we are told to do something, is there resistance? If so, that’s pride.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6b).

(9)Temperance- Do we let our emotions take over and harm another with our lips?  If so, there is no self control. But also, for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,  to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness (2 Peter 1:5-6). 

As for me, I have not been perfected yet, but I am striving. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org