{"id":15209,"date":"2018-08-01T20:00:08","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T00:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.discover-grace.flywheelsites.com\/?p=15209"},"modified":"2023-09-19T17:00:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T21:00:49","slug":"three-ways-to-fight-negative-emotions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discovergrace.com\/three-ways-to-fight-negative-emotions\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Ways to Fight Negative Emotions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seasons of depression, anxiety, and sadness are nothing new \u2014 some of the most famous biblical heroes did not escape them. David wrote many of the Psalms out of a spirit of anxiety and fear. Paul wrote that he was \u201cso utterly burdened beyond (his) strength that (he) despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8).\u201d Moses and Elijah both struggled under the weight of their calling (Numbers 11, I Kings 19). Even Christ himself sweat tears of blood in the garden as he faced the agony of the cross (Luke 22:42-44).\u00a0<\/span>
\nHere are three practical ways scripture teaches us how we can move forward from a depressed or anxious mood:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Take your thoughts captive.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n

When you wake up and thoughts immediately flood into your head, who\u2019s doing the thinking? It\u2019s not you! We can\u2019t let our minds run on idle \u2014 we have to be the one who\u2019s consciously choosing what to think. We have to monitor, challenge, and rewrite our thoughts.\u00a0<\/span>
\nOur job is to see ourselves as God sees us. That means we have to think His thoughts \u2014 the ones He\u2019s already written about us in scripture \u2014 over our hearts and minds. Because our thoughts don\u2019t cooperate and are driven by either our own flesh or our enemy, satan, we have to take them captive:<\/p>\n

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ<\/em> (2 Corinthians 10:5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

King David knew this to be true. In Psalm 43:5 he writes \u201cWhy are you downcast, oh my soul?\u201d Who is he talking to here? Himself!\u00a0 <\/span>He is taking captive his thoughts and running them<\/em> instead of letting them run him<\/em>.
\nTo take something captive means to take it by force \u2014 the biblical language here is violent. We must wrestle our thoughts to the ground and \u201cmake\u201d them obedient to Christ. Thinking is not a passive sport but an active one. As we do this more and more, it will become second nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Meditate on scripture.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n

The secular practice of meditation calls you to empty your mind \u2014 a very dangerous practice, because God tells us only to fill it:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.<\/strong> Philippians 4:8<\/p>\n

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,\u00a0and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,\u00a0when I remember you upon my bed,\u00a0and meditate<\/strong> on you in the watches of the night. Psalm 63:5-6<\/p>\n

I will ponder all your work, and meditate<\/b> on your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:12<\/p>\n

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate<\/b> on your promise. Psalm 119:148<\/p>\n

When faced with temptation and with the cross, Jesus always turned to and quoted scripture. When we encounter negative emotions, we are called to do the same.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Turn up the worship.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h4>\n

Scripture says that God provides the garment of praise in exchange for a spirit of despair or a faint spirit (Isaiah 61:3). When you are sad or anxious, get up. Listen to worship music. Sing or speak God\u2019s praise out loud. Join the community in corporate worship on the weekend. Lift up your voice and lift your spirits.\u00a0<\/span>
\nDon\u2019t let negative emotions run the show; fight back with His promises and HIs glory, and be bold in the Spirit:<\/p>\n

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Hebrews 10:39<\/p>\n

\n

by Senior Pastor Mike Adkins<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Seasons of depression, anxiety, and sadness are nothing new \u2014 some of the most famous biblical heroes did not escape them. 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