Living life brings a guarantee that along with the good comes the bad as well. It’s unrealistic to think that we’ll never encounter negative emotions; they’re swirling around us in our external environment. Using God’s Word as a tool to maintain our authority in the emotional realm keeps our feelings from overwhelming us. Looking at each day as a gift instead of as a 24-hour slog through gives us a new perspective and makes us aware of how much we have to be thankful for.
No matter how bad things get, we can always find reasons for gratitude. A mindset like this gives us the advantage. Declaring, “This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it,” sets the tone for the day. It takes our mind off the negative and refocuses it on the positive.
We can’t control what goes on around us, but we can control how we respond to it. We aren’t strong enough to defeat depression and anxiety on our own; we need the kind of strength that comes only from God. The joy of the Lord is our strength. No matter the circumstances, giving thanks in everything is His will for us.
Negative emotions are one way the enemy attacks us and tries to steal our joy. The Bible tells us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, to enter into His gates with thanksgiving and be thankful to Him. This is our way of fighting back and maintaining the victory that Jesus won for us. When we’re too weak to defend ourselves against anger, discouragement, guilt, or any other negative feeling, God reminds us that His grace is sufficient for us; His strength is made perfect in weakness.
We can rely on God to deliver us from evil, including from the wrong emotions. Using His power in this area shields and protects us. A grateful mindset is an unstoppable weapon against the devil.
Prayer:
God, Your Word helps us deal with our feelings so that they won’t deal with us. Thank You for giving us reasons to be joyful and grateful so that we can defeat negative emotions. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
Psalm 118:24
Nehemiah 8:10
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 100:1, 4
2 Corinthians 12:9
Matthew 6:13