I can get caught up in my emotions.
Sometimes, I feel like I'm on a roller coaster,
that my highs can be really high
and my lows can be really low.
And it's hard to try to get back some balance.
Do you ever feel like that?
That maybe you hear another news media story
or some crisis going on in the world
and you go kind of through the roller coaster of emotions?
Well, I found something
that really seems to be helpful for me.
It's found in Paul's letter to the Philippians
in chapter four.
And this is what he says
when we're dealing with those unwanted emotions.
He said,
Paul says, "Don't be anxious about anything."
And he's saying that,
but not only is he saying that, he lived that.
He's writing these words from prison,
and he had lots of things that he could be anxious about.
He could be anxious about maybe losing his life.
He'd be anxious about his next meal.
But he found the secret to overcoming
these unwanted feelings.
He said, "Present your request to God with thanksgiving."
Say a prayer of thanksgiving.
You see, when we're grateful and thankful,
those are emotions that really tsunami
every other emotion that we're feeling.
When you're grateful and thankful
in presenting those requests to God,
it changes everything else you're thinking.
You see, you can't be anxious, and afraid, and thankful
at the same time.
So, when I feel myself
going through that roller coaster of emotions,
I try to stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving.
I start listing before the Lord those spiritual blessings
that no situation can take away from me,
like I'm a forgiven loved child of God,
I thank God for that.
I thank God that he promises to work out all things
even the evil in this world,
and even my bad decisions for my eternal good.
And as I'm thanking God,
I experience what Paul is promising.
That the peace of God, which goes beyond our understanding,
starts to guard my mind and my heart
from those toxic rollercoaster kind of thoughts.
So, how about you?
Are you on the roller coaster of emotions right now?
Are you maybe angry, or afraid, or upset, or depressed?
Stop everything,
and list before your Lord a prayer of thanksgiving.
Thank God especially for those spiritual things
that can't be taken away from you.
And as you're thankful and grateful before the Lord,
let the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding,
guard your heart and mind from all kind of toxic thoughts,
and you will experience God's joy.
Let's pray.
Lord God,
we thank you that we are forgiven children in Christ.
We thank you
that you promise to work out all things for our good.
We thank you for your word.
We thank you for your promises.
And Lord God,
as we try to have a thankful heart with your help,
we pray right now that you would give us the peace
that goes beyond our understanding.
Amen.
Today, we talked about the power of thankfulness
that leads to a feeling of joy.
Can you comment below
on some of the things that you're thankful for?
Thanks for watching and we'll see you tomorrow.