Emotions and feelings

altya · Mar 22, 2003

We are often taught to believe that our heart is evil and our emotions war reflections of that heart. We blame our sinful behavior on our wrong feelings, and then try desperately to control them. We repress, hide and deny them. Instead of accepting them as the God-given messages they are.

We are not to let feelings control our lives, but we are not to do away with them. They are the messages which inform us of the condition of our hearts. We need to identify, label and accept them as well as learn to express them appropriately. When we learn to do this as Jesus did, it becomes possible for us to share who we truly are with others.

Feelings are a physiological response to reactions Controlled by the autonomic nervous system (as are blinking and breathing) we often cant control our feelings, but we can control resultant behaviors.

Emotions is feelings tied to beliefs and attitudes sometimes described as those things that control us

Gerry · Mar 22, 2003

We are often taught to believe that our heart is evil and our emotions war reflections of that heart. We blame our sinful behavior on our wrong feelings, and then try desperately to control them. We repress, hide and deny them.

I am glad you pointed this out, for this is one of my pet peeves. I see this taught often and it is absolutely wrong and contrary to the Word of God.

Kirisutokyoo-shinja · Mar 22, 2003

Hey...how do you decipher them correctly?
At the moment I am in dire need of "re-accesing" myself...
A lot of things I am feeling I wonder what is true and what is not.
I need to redefine everything before I do something that I may regret.
I need to understand whether or not certain things are true...or they are just from momentary actions or recent events.  Whether or not these directed at persons is appropriate or not...and what should be directed at others...and what should not.  And other areas too.  Please, I need feed back.
Thank you.
God Bless.

Gerry · Mar 22, 2003

Today at 02:20 PM Kirisutokyoo-shinja said this in Post #3

Hey...how do you decipher them correctly?
At the moment I am in dire need of "re-accesing" myself...
A lot of things I am feeling I wonder what is true and what is not.
I need to redefine everything before I do something that I may regret.
I need to understand whether or not certain things are true...or they are just from momentary actions or recent events.  Whether or not these directed at persons is appropriate or not...and what should be directed at others...and what should not.  And other areas too.  Please, I need feed back.
Thank you.
God Bless.

May I humbly reccomend to you the Book of John. Jesus defines everything plainly and clearly, not only in this Book but others as well. But this is surely a starting point that will give you guidance that will give you Peace.

Sometimes we just have to take time out and crawl into the Word and soak for a spell.

Many blessings to you as you seek His guidance in your life!

altya · Mar 22, 2003

Hey...how do you decipher them correctly?

I hope this help too.

How to handle emotions

1) Recognize that feelings are neither right nor wrong.
Attitudes, beliefs and actions may be sinful, but the feelings we have are morally neutral.
We often bury or suppress our feelings because we believe them to be sinful
When we try to suppress feelings, they will nonetheless be expressed in indirect and often inappropriate ways.

2) Begin to notice degrees of intensities of feelings, no matter how small.

Seek quiet times
Stop, take time to listen to your feelings
Seek help from spouse, friends, counselors, the Lord (Psalm 139)

Built a dictionary of words with which to label your feelings

3) Learn to express your feelings to others.

Paint word pictures
Take risks
Be specific

4) Stay away from generic words

They convey very little

5) Let no negative feelings go unexamined

Look for the root ask yourself and ask the Lord to show you
Where does this feeling or emotion comes from?
When have I felt this emotion before?
Identify judgment which may be tied to negative emotions
Confess, pray forgiveness, repent
The deeper the feeling or emotion the deeper the root
Continue to examine feelings as they come up
Use journals to record them
Recognize that not all feelings indicate a rood

Jobs feelings where only reactions to trauma his friends wrongly labeled root causes

Kirisutokyoo-shinja · Mar 22, 2003

Thank You.
God BLess You.

GraftMeIn · Mar 22, 2003

The number one emotion, or feeling that we should always act out of is love.

1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

reeann · Mar 22, 2003

Sometimes we just have to take time out and crawl into the Word and soak for a spell

if you feel weak in your feelings like me, I suggest finding a godly friend you can trust to hold you accountable too. I travelled so far from God not making myself accountable to others. Its too easy to deceive ourselves, sometimes we are so willing to believe satan's lies

Doreen · Mar 24, 2003

that's so true - I need to be accountable about my feelings plus other stuff. My friends keep me in line if I say or do something that is not what Jesus wants for me to say or do.

4HimILive · Mar 24, 2003

I find that if I am dire straits, I pray before thinking, doing, speaking or making any decisions.

The answer may not come right away, but God ALWAYS answers. If nothing comes at all, then the answer is no, say nothing, or this is not for you.

Fellowship also helps.

 

TANKERx · Mar 24, 2003

Such wisdom is being expressed here and I am so encouraged by what you guys are saying. I have often felt guilty for some of the ways I have sought to try and deal with my feelings but here I read that it's perfectly alright.

One thing I find that I do lack though is self discipline, the steadiness of mind to hold to a decision, no matter how I feel about it. Oh, how I wish i could be like Mr. Spock at times and pack my feelings in a box!

I try and remember that God's not given me a spirit of fear but love, power and a sound mind.

A question though: Is love always a feeling? Is it sometimes (maybe often) an act of the will? Is it fair to say that someone can fall in love?

altya · Mar 25, 2003

Yesterday at 09:59 PM TANKERx said this in Post #11

A question though: Is love always a feeling? Is it sometimes (maybe often) an act of the will? Is it fair to say that someone can fall in love?

There are four kinds of love: - Philo, Agapé, Eross and the Corporate love.

For Agapé love we need to follow a commandment. Its Gods love and sometimes impossible to love love your enemy

Eross love is the love between man and woman and this require certain chemistries its the typical falling in love kind

In order to succeed in your love relationship with your spouse you will need to love in all four manners.

Make your spouse your very best friend and philo love him/her. Agape love him/her because there will come bad times and Gods love will carry you though. Without Eross love there cannot be a marriage and the Corporate love will help you to share him/her with the society, congregation and children.

Just remember for Christians there is no such thing to fall in and out of love. People who constantly do this are immature.

Gerry · Mar 26, 2003

Good thread and very informative.

I would like to add that there is a kind of love that is a "living" thing. It has a life and grows and matures, and like all living things it must be handled correctly. It must be nurtured and cared for or it will starve from lack of attention, and it can even be effectively "murdered". Although, love like the human spirit, lives forever, it can be rendered useless and vegetative and of no effect, as one in a coma. That is why when we give birth to love, we must care for it as we would a helpless baby. You cannot toss a baby around and abuse it and expect it to grow to maturity and be strong and vital. This kind of love is no different.

altya · Mar 28, 2003

Gerry this is so good!!!! Thanks

Emotions and feelings

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