The Link between Our Emotions and Our Lives

Jan. 16, 2019 | By Creflo Dollar

We’ve all felt the tug of strong emotions at times, and we know how powerful our emotions can be. Whether it was anger, fear, excitement, or elation, sometimes our feelings swept us away. Godly emotions allow us to enjoy life, but there’s also a dark side to emotions we must be aware of. Just as positive emotions bring us closer to God’s will for us, unchecked negative emotions can destroy our lives.

What we expose ourselves to, determines what we think, and what we think determines how we feel. How we feel determines our decisions, and our decisions determine our actions. When we’re unaware of the link between our thoughts and our actions, we can find ourselves in a bad situation with no understanding of how we got there. Thankfully, God’s Word gives us wisdom to avoid that trap. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).

Everyone has feelings, but most churches don’t teach us how to handle them. As a result, we’re at the mercy of every negative thought that comes into our heads. God wants us to enjoy emotional stability, which is the ability to take control over our emotions instead of letting them control us. Our thoughts and feelings come from our souls; God’s will is for us to succeed and prosper in that area. “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 1:2).

Conversely, the enemy uses emotions like guilt, condemnation, anxiety, depression, and other negative feelings to move us away from the destiny God has for us. We’re in a spiritual war over our minds, and the stakes are high. “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT). The thoughts we entertain influence what ultimately happens in our lives. When we have a thought, idea, or attitude that contradicts what God says, we must actively resist it.

Attacks on our thoughts will come; the proper response to them is to devise a battle plan from the Word. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). Exposing ourselves to God’s Word insulates and protects us from the emotional darts from the devil. Meditating on it, replaces dread and worry with peace of mind.

We have the upper hand in this fight. When Jesus came, He gave us the same authority that He received from the Father. This authority extends to every realm—including the emotional realm. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19, NKJV). Never again will we have to feel overwhelmed by discouragement or hopelessness when we stand on our believers’ authority.

It’s okay to have emotions, as long as our emotions don’t have us. The emotional control that Adam and Eve lost in the garden of Eden, has been restored to us. Believing this allows us to live victorious, joyful lives.

The Right Attitude toward Money

By Creflo Dollar

Read more

Overcoming Negative Emotions with Thanksgiving Part 1-2

Overcoming Negative Emotions with Thanksgiving Part 1-2

Read more