I enjoy many thoughts out of a book called, Beat Cancer Daily, by Chris Wark. I hope you are inspired in the reading as I am.

Are you driven by your mind or your emotions?

Your mind is rational. Your emotions are irrational. If you let your emotions drive, your feelings will determine your actions. But your feelings are fickle. They change constantly. And your feelings often become an excuse for not doing what you need to do.

If you only went to work on the days when you felt like going to work, you would miss a lot of workdays and get fired. The reason you show up for work when you don’t feel like it is because there are consequences if you don’t.

When it comes to our daily choices, including whether or not to take care of ourselves, we tend to let our emotions rule. Our fluctuating feelings, insecurities, fears, and doubts can lead us to self-sabotage through inaction or poor choices. But the consequences are not immediate. They take time to manifest, often as chronic disease.

It’s easy to let your emotions drive you, but you don’t have to. Your mind controls your actions. And you can choose to resist emotion-driven actions. Like holding your tongue or walking away from an argument. Like choosing to eat an apple when you want to eat a tub of ice cream. Like going to the gym when you really want to lie in bed and binge-watch TV.

Today’s Declaration: I rule my emotions.

Reminders from Scripture to let our minds, renewed by the Word of God, control our unsanctified feelings.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 12:16 ESV  The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV  A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

James 4:7 ESV Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Thessalonians 4:4 ESV [Let] each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor

Praying we each will let the mind of Christ have the driver’s seat in our many daily decisions.

Juanita Edge, Communication Director