Take Charge of that Unruly Heart

Shock, surprise, anger, fear, excitement – emotions make us who we are.  They are the texture, the color, the flavor of life.  Emotion is not always pleasant, sometimes overwhelming.  

One physician describes our fear response, for example, like this: "Sequences of nerve cell firing occur and chemicals like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream. … this causes our body to undergo a series of very dramatic changes. Our respiratory rate increases. Blood is shunted away from our digestive tract and directed into our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for running and fighting. … Our sight sharpens. Our impulses quicken. Our perception of pain diminishes. Our immune system mobilizes with increased activation. We become prepared—physically and psychologically—for fight or flight." (Neil F. Neimark, M.D.)

When I experience that kind of emotional response, my mind, which is informed by God's will and wisdom, kicks in to assert itself! There is an internal dialogue that takes longer to read than it takes to actually process. Reason steps up to control the unruly heart.  In a moment of fear, I can think something like this-
"Is there a real threat here?
Is that person actually someone to fear? 
Will this situation hurt you?  What resources may I gather to meet the challenge?"

Christian, God tells you to `take charge' of your emotions, impulses, appetites, and desires.  

The Word teaches us that "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32, NKJV) Repeatedly, Paul calls on disciples of Jesus Christ to exercise self-control, which is an evidence of the life of the Holy Spirit active in us.  We need to understand and internalize this passage which is promises us the ability to rise above our momentary emotional impulses. "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-9, NIV) We must not live in a sleepy state in which our emotions run riot in our lives! 

We live in the full light of day, fully aware of what's going on inside of us, around us in this world, and in the spiritual realm. This allows us to live in self-control.  We are not bouncing off everything that happens, reacting to every threat- real or imagined. Instead, with our hearts protected by Christ’s love and the faith fed by the Spirit of God, we act in a way that is guided by the promise and purpose of the Lord.

Don't give yourself an excuse when temptations or emotional passions arise, even when they shake you like a ragdoll. You are in charge of your emotions, your responses. Peter says, "make every effort!" Yes, he says this against the backdrop of this reminder of our source of power to overcome- "By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life." (2 Peter 1:3, NLT) Emotions enrich our lives but if we let them lead us, only disaster will follow.

Are you living a life of self-control, pursuing excellence of character, so that your words and actions will consistently turn the attention of people around you to God and His goodness?

Here is a word from the Word. Own it and live it today. Take charge of your unruly heart.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. … you … participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. … make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-9, NIV)
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Be still, my soul;
The Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross
Of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God
To order and provide.
In ev'ry change
He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul;
Thy best, Thy heavenly Friend
Thro' thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul;
Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future
As He has the past.
Thy hope, Thy confidence
Let nothing shake;
All now mysterious
Shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul;
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
While He dwelt below.

Be Still My Soul

Von Schlegal, Katharina / Borthwick, Jane L. / Sibelius, Jean
© Public Domain