Keeping Your Feelings in Check

www.insideoutwithcourtnaye.org

If you clicked onto this post, you’re probably shouting, “Yes! How do you do it?” Trust me. If you feel this way, I totally get it, because I’ve been where you are before, too. Actually, I wish I could’ve read a post like this years ago! But here it is, my sister. Tried and true. So let’s talk about how to respond properly under pressure or keep your feelings in check.

First of all, let me ask this quick question. What’s got you under pressure? Or maybe I should also pose this question, “Who’s stressing you out?” Either one of those should work for this particular post. Yet, in either case, the first step to responding well under any form of pressure is finding out where the pressure point lies. Once you know, breathe in. And then breathe out.

And the reason why I’m saying this is because taking a deep pause before you respond or react to the current situation, problem, or person will allow you to think and consider what your next action steps will be. It will also allow you the time to pray and quickly ask the Lord to help you to respond the way He would want you to respond, as His daughter.

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6, “…pray about everything.” And Philippians 2:13-14 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Listen, sis. There is nothing that our great enemy Satan wants more than to accuse us (the brethren/saints) of some wrongdoing against God’s truth (See Job 2:1-6). The devil wants us to respond improperly, and he knows that we’re especially vulnerable or more likely to do so when we’re under pressure. That’s why we have to be sensitive to our own feelings, emotions, pressure points, and the enemy beforewe do or say something that we will later regret (and have to apologize for).

Think about it for a moment. How many people have lost jobs over “losing it” because they just couldn’t take anymore from a boss or another employee? Or what about blowing up over something or making a fuss over something that didn’t require that much fussing over. But then realizing afterwards that it really didn’t have to be all of that. Emotions are powerful, and that’s why we have to keep them in check.

Personally, I remember having a situation happen to me where I was emotionally high and super overwhelmed with my kids, home stuff, and ministry work. I was really reaching a boiling point. Spiritual warfare was full on, sister!

And just as I felt this immense pressure building even more, I got an email alert on my phone about something dealing with one of my kid’s assignments at school. The teacher gave my son a 0 for homework that according to her records it wasn’t completed.

Well, as an already stressed out woman and mother, my initial thought was to call the teacher to let her know that the grade was wrong, because I personally worked on the assignment with him, and yadda, yadda, yadda. But I didn’t call. Instead, I took a deep breath, paused, talked to my husband and told him that I just needed to take a ride. And I did. I also prayed along the way. But do you know what really helped me more than anything else as I poured out my heart to God? His Word.

You see, on my emotional journey, my husband messaged me a video via Facebook to watch about how “not”to allow your feelings to control you and to be more disciplined in getting what needs to get done in the season you’re currently in, done. Not to mention, my devotion that morning was also talking about not letting your feelings control your actions. So God was definitely speaking to me.

With that being said, I heeded those Word-filled messages. And I’ll tell you, the heaviness began to lift almost immediately. I experienced freedom and joy all through the powerful and life-changing Word of God. Hallelujah!

So I’m saying all of this to say, breathe, pray, and allow God’s Word to help you to respond well when you’re under pressure. Don’t let your emotions take over and mess things up. Because guess what? When I got back home (after my long and awesome emotional breakthrough ride), I noticed that my son’s schoolwork (that was supposed to be turned in) was on my office desk. WHOA!!!!

Now imagine if I would’ve called the school to gripe about his grade. My sonforgot it at home! So the teacher was absolutely right. And as I sat there alone in my office, I asked, “Now God, what was that all about?” And He showed me through that real-life experience how important it is for us to control our emotionsand to be mindful of the enemy when we’re under pressure.

This experience also reminded me to walk in the Spirit by responding with godly character (the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, humility, or self-control-See Galatians 5:22-23). Because before I took that long ride, I prayed and asked, “Okay Lord, which fruit of the Spirit do I need right now?” And the Holy Spirit’s response to me was self-control and meekness (humility). So that’s what I did. I put my flesh under subjection to operate in self-control as I humbled myself under God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s direction. And it all worked out! I grew from it.

If you’re super busy right now, be on guard. If you’re stressed out by anything or anyone, bring it to God in prayer, open up to Him, listen to His Word, and breathe. Because ultimately He knows how to help you through it, sis. Also, be open to what He may want to teach you in the process. In addition, keep in mind that the enemy loves it when you’re busy or under a lot of stress or pressure. So stay sober and alert.

Oh and one more thing...Don’t explode! Don’t blow the roof off. Don’t go crazy! Because the Holy Spirit is right there to help you respond properly under pressure, my sister. Just let the Word of God minister to you to help lift your weary or frustrated spirit and bring your joy back. Lastly, don’t forget to ask, “Lord, which fruit of the Spirit do I need to operate in right now?” And flow in it. Trust me. It works!

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out!

~Courtnaye

QUESTION: Are you under pressure right now, sis? Do you need keep your feelings in check? If you need prayer, you can email me directly and I will pray for you @ insideoutwithcourtnaye@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you. 
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