Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] John 14:27 (AMP) How many of us say this without thinking? “I’m so stressed!” Society teaches us that stress, anxiety and fear are normal. But why have we set such a low standard for us as believers? We’re saved in order to live a life that’s different, full of freedom—and that includes our emotions. Of course, we all face stressors at times, but living in a state of uneasiness shouldn’t be your norm. You …

But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. James 1:14–15 (AMPC) Did you know that at this very moment, you’re choosing your own future? Our thoughts and feelings set the direction of our lives, and we need to take advantage of this incredible power God has given us! The truth is, often your emotions lie to you. For example, you might feel unlovable, but the truth from God’s Word says you’re His child and He loves you (1 John 3:1). We’re all tempted to believe the negative thoughts and feelings that rise up to …

And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. Ephesians 4:19 (NASB) What does it mean to be callous or hardhearted? Most people think that a person with a hard heart is cold and emotionless. But actually, someone who is overly emotional can be hardhearted as well. This kind of person doesn’t know how to stand in someone else’s shoes. They’re too wrapped up in their own emotions to empathize with others—and it destroys their relationships. Today’s verse says that when we’re callous, we give ourselves over to sensuality. We usually think of that word in terms of sex, but it simply means “from the senses.” Your five senses and emotions are constantly feeding you information, …

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. Ephesians 4:17–18 (NASB) Sometimes when we are struggling, we can get caught up trying to figure out our emotions. We ask ourselves, “Why am I this way? What’s wrong with me?” The trouble is, that train of thought has a tendency to take over, and the more we examine ourselves, the more messed up we tend to get. Today’s verse calls it being darkened in…understanding. Often we focus too much on analyzing the …

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6 (KJV) Children aren’t born with the ability to harness their emotions. When a two-year-old feels something, you’re sure to know it. Emotions dictate their every move! Over time, we develop the ability to think before we act, but sometimes we still make emotional decisions that we later regret. To live at the mercy of your emotions is exhausting, and it destroys your mind, body and relationships. It’s not that emotions are wrong. Everything God made is good and beautiful, including your ability to feel! At the same time, acting on our emotions can sometimes bring destruction if we don’t learn a better way. Let me tell you a …