When Moods Rule!

There was a time when I had little control over my emotions. In fact, it would be fair to say that my moods ruled. When all was well, I was full of joy. However, when disappointments came or life was tough, I was down in the dumps.

If my husband challenged me, I’d feel hurt and cry. If my boss confronted me, I’d shrink back and mope. If a friend misunderstood me, my stomach would knot. Then there would be my time of the month… I’d be irritable, weepy or gloomy. It was horrible.

Broken walls

It was never God’s plan for you or I to be governed by our moods. If our feelings run our lives, then all it takes is some bad news or a cruel comment to ruin the week.

“Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.” Proverbs 25:28

We’re broken if we live that way. Walls protect a city from enemy attack. When our emotions are out of control, we’re an easy target. We snap at the children when they’re behaving badly. We ignore our spouse for forgetting a birthday. We’re get upset with a leader for challenging our behaviour. We won’t go to church because we’re melancholic. Feelings, feelings, feelings.

A better way

To live in victory, we need to master our emotions. In fact, the verse in Proverbs says we need to rule our spirits. If you need emotional healing, I encourage you to read my book, “Lifting the Mask.” God will bring you on a wonderful journey to wholeness. But in the meantime, He will show you how you can take control.

“A fool vents all his feelings but a wise man holds them back” Proverbs 29:11

When we let it all hang out, we’re falling short. Hold means to constrain, calm or quieten. Sometimes we must restrain our feelings. On other occasions we need to calm them down.

Time to grow

I wanted to be transformed to be more like Christ. However, I didn’t like it when anyone told me what needed to change! Eventually, I realised that if I wanted to grow, I would have to take feedback. This became a training ground for managing my emotions. Instead of showing my hurt when people pointed out my shortcomings, I learned to bite my lip and listen. God used my desire to mature to teach me how to take charge of my soul.

Sometimes we need to calm down. If we’re irritated or angry, frustrated or upset, we might need to speak peace to the storm.

Weaning

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 131:1-3

It takes a mother a few months to wean their child off milk and onto solid food. It requires commitment and a plan. So learning to manage our emotions takes time and effort but it’s worth it.

Make a decision to be consistent when you feel like it and when you don’t, to do the right thing when you’re on the mountaintop and when you’re in the valley. You’ll learn to ignore your feelings when they’re leading you astray.

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Those who… keep their promises even when it hurts.” Psalm 15:1,4b (New Living Translation)

God wants you to fulfil your potential. As you learn to rule your own spirit more each day, you will become a better you.

If you want to be free so that you can fulfil your purpose, order my book 30 Day Detox for your Soul from Amazon. And come to Healed for Life, our transformational event that helps get you ready for your destiny. See jonaughton.com for details.