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The Colors of Emotion
By Susanne Scheppmann
Key
Verse:
“This then is how we know that we belong to the
truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts
condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1
John 3:19-20 NIV)
Devotion:
My feelings scoot across the emotion spectrum.
Some days are happy days. Other mornings I don’t want to crawl out of bed—I
just want to wallow in misery and depression. I sigh and say to my husband, “I
have the blues today.” I guess you could say I am a “colorful” person. Maybe
you are too.
Have you
ever found yourself saying something like?
· I am feeling blue today.
· I am so angry that I see
red.
· I am green with envy.
· I am in black despair.
Usually,
our emotions are not based on reality, but on a temporary perception of
reality. One day something might make me burst with happiness—the next I may
think it is stupid. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above
all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV). We
cannot always understand why we “feel” the way we do. It could be weariness,
hormones, or a pleasant surprise. Let’s admit it—we women are fickle.
Fortunately, although our hearts are deceitful
and trick us into colorful emotions, God is bigger and stronger than our
hearts. Our key verse states, "This then is how we know that we belong to
the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our
hearts condemn us. For God is greater
than our hearts, and he knows everything (1 John 3:19-20 NIV). (Emphasis
added) This makes me shout aloud, “Hallelujah!”
However, we still hold some responsibility for
our hearts, thoughts and emotions. Proverbs 4:23 instructs, “Above all else,
guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (NIV).” We should take care
about the books, movies and television that we allow to influence our thoughts.
Listening to gossip, rumors and discontent from friends will certainly stir up
negative feelings.
Instead of infusing ourselves with emotional
junk food, we need to nourish our minds with godly influences. For example,
read the Bible, chat with godly friends, or listen to praise music. The more
joyful and contentment-filled influences we filter throughout each day will
result in a positive colorful emotional state—we’ll be tickled pink.
Prayer;
Dear Lord, Grant me the ability to recognize my
emotions are not always truth. I thank you that You are bigger and stronger
than my deceitful heart. Teach me how to be most effective in guarding my heart
from fickle emotions. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Application
steps:
Memorize
the following passages to help you gain control over colorful emotions:
Jeremiah
17:9, The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can
understand it? (NIV).
1 John 3:20, For God is greater than our hearts,
and he knows everything (NIV).
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. (NIV).”
Reflections:
Do
I rely on my emotions to determine the outcome of my day?
What
circumstances influence my emotions?
Power
verses:
Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and
customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing
the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is
good and pleasing and perfect.” (NLT)
Philippians 4:8, “Summing it all up, friends,
I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true,
noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the
beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” (MSG)
Galatians 5:22-24, “But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV)
© 2010 by Susanne Scheppmann. All rights reserved.
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