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Emotions in Perspective

 “Don’t do everything your emotions tell you to do, 

because they don’t have any brains.” 
My children often heard this phrase as they were growing up. I’m sure there was some eye rolling! This came from a class, “Ministers Spiritual Life’ taught by brother Truman Scott, who was a counselor, instructor and gospel preacher. 
We can understand they are God-given, and so recognize that they are part of who we are in Christ. But we may ask, "What is their purpose?” 
Another quote from Brother Scott gives some insight,
“Our emotions were given as color, bright and dark, aright, for our lives, not as mandates of action.” 
The part we choose for emotions to play in our life will affect our growth in Christ. 
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16
We want to build up ourselves and in so doing, build up the body of Christ we are members of together.
We want to build up with wise use of the emotions what God has given us. Acknowledge them, exercising control and putting them in their rightful place. No emotion is inherently good or bad, but we give value to each as we choose the value it has in our life. Our actions give them value and we may use them wisely or not in the kingdom. 
Ask yourself, “Do I choose to control my emotions as a follower of Christ, or do they choose to control me?” 
Praying you are blessed today ~ Denise 
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