The Pattern Of Healthy Emotions

On several occasions on this platform, I have engaged us in conversations around the danger of emotions and how to navigate through the lowest points in your lives in contrast to scripture. While I honor the scientific and medical work that has been put into helping human beings navigate their moods better in a clinical way,, the church must also have answers to navigate these situations from a spiritual standpoint.

In John 17John 17 Jesus Prays for Himself 17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. Jesus Prays for His Disciples 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. Jesus Prays for All Believers 20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”, we read a powerful, distinct yet holistic prayer Jesus made for all believers. He focused His prayer on those that had come to Him and believed in Him also including those that were yet to believe but who eventually would. The highlight from this prayer is that our Master said Himself, that ‘we were not of this world’ though we lived in it (v15,16) and asked God not to take us out of it but to protect us while in it. Every effort to look for worldly solutions therefore, becomes futile for the believer, and will seldom work out efficiently.

Many schools of thought define depression as a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. I have often emphasized that we are spirits with souls living in bodies and God who is spirit engages your spirit primarily. Therefore, as believers you are regarded as spiritual beings and scripture teaches that emotions follow thoughts (Colossians 3:2)Colossians 3:22 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. and your emotions will be as a result of what your mind is fixated on (Isaiah 26:3).Isaiah 26:33 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. For example, a person who is in perpetual worry of what happened in the past or what might go wrong tomorrow and the day after based on that past experience, will inevitably fall into a pattern of destruction because they are unable to do anything to change the past or foretell the future.

This constant obstination with holding on to the past or wanting to control what’s ahead leads to mood alterations, which scientists then call depression. As a result, symptoms like chemical imbalance which can be diagnosed on the surface appear and are then treated. For the believer however, it is important for you to understand that symptoms such as chemical imbalance are only a result of a mind that has stopped operating within the constraints it was set to operate in by God (Isaiah 26:3).Isaiah 26:33 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. When such symptoms appear, you would be surprised to know that your body is responding exactly as God has designed it to function.

For when they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:21Romans 1:2121 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

The word imagination in our theme scripture is translated yetser in its original Hebrew language, and this yetser can also connote mind or thoughts. The writer of Romans therefore alludes to the cause that leads a believer to have vain imaginations. Firstly, they know God but they neither glorify Him by acknowledging and magnifying every good thing they have received through Christ (Philemon 1:6)Philemon 1:66 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.and secondly, they are not thankful for His sacrifice to make them whole. This total indifference towards God, the one who created them, then leads to vain imaginations. In simpler terms, vain imaginations are a counterfeit way for a believer to think and engage their mind, leading up to the darkening of their whole being (hearts) from the pollution that is now existing in their minds.

You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3Isaiah 26:33 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

The Hebrew word in our text for mind is also yetser, connoting imagination. If your imaginations are stayed on things above, that is who God calls you (Ephesians 2:10),Ephesians 2:1010 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. what He says about your life, inheritance, promises (Deuteronomy 28:13),Deuteronomy 28:1313 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. what He calls your reality (Colossian 2:17) – it is impossible to look at the vanities surrounding you until they steal your joy and peace. That is why, as I mentioned above, when your body’s chemicals begin to get out of balance, it may truly be that you walked out of the original and correct pattern your body is set to function within.

..,while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:182 Corinthians 4:18 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. KJV

Child of God, it is possible to live a life that is not constantly tied to strife. While your spirit is seated at the right hand of the Father when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your mind is still tied to its earthen vessel and must therefore be renewed at all times to align with your spirit (Romans 12:2).Romans 12:22 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Paul tells us in the text above that while we look not, meaning it is a choice to observe what might not be moving as expected but he also reminds us that everything you can see is only temporal. If then you have chosen the way of faith and you have been raised with Christ, set your mind on things above where this Christ you have been made one with, is seated (Colossians 3:1-4)Colossians 3:1-4Not Carnality but Christ 3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.. [Selah]

If you have never given your life to Jesus Christ, and you feel that this is the perfect time, pray this prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I thank you because you died for my sins and you were raised for my glory. Today, I receive you as my Lord and Savior. I am born again. Amen.”