"Emotional Wholeness"
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Discussion
Discussion
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Why do you think Joseph’s brothers went to the extreme of plotting his murder?
What are ways we can deal with our feelings before they reach such a dangerous place?
Our Refuge
Our Refuge
We can turn to God for help navigating our complex, powerful, emotions.
We can turn to God for help navigating our complex, powerful, emotions.
With boldness we confidentially approach God, knowing He cares about each detail of our lives, including our feelings.
With boldness we confidentially approach God, knowing He cares about each detail of our lives, including our feelings.
He responds with grace and mercy.
He responds with grace and mercy.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
How does scripture indicate that we can approach God’s throne? ____________________________________________________________
What do you think it means to come boldly before the throne? ____________________________________________________________
What will God give you in time of need? ____________________________________________________________
How does it feel to know that God wants to help you? ____________________________________________________________
Even Christians experience emotions like sadness, anger, and fear. Some of these cause us to feel condemned. We feel like we are spiritually weak or faulty. God gave emotion to us. There are no wrong emotions, only wrong responses to the emotions we feel. The scripture tells us of many of God’s emotions. They are the same as ours.
At times our emotions can be complex and overwhelming. It helps to develop a habit of taking our concerns to God first. (Many of the prophets challenged or confronted God. Sarah laughed in disbelief at Him...)
It helps to have an open conversation with God continually.
The Purpose of Emotions
The Purpose of Emotions
God created emotions as important feedback indicators.
God created emotions as important feedback indicators.
When we learn to pause and recognize these emotions, it signals when to turn to God for help in our distress.
When we learn to pause and recognize these emotions, it signals when to turn to God for help in our distress.
They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;
These see the works of the Lord, And his wonders in the deep.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: Their soul is melted because of trouble.
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end.
Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.
What do the sailors in this passage do in their trouble? (verse 28) ____________________________________________________
Have you ever felt like you were at your wit’s end? ____________________________________________________
Did you call on God? Did He respond? ____________________________________________________
Trust in God.
Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
How could someone allow anger to lead to sin?
How can anger be useful?
Anger is a secondary emotion.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
When we have physical pain it prompts a response. Emotional pain also tells us when something is wrong.
When we have physical pain, we go see a doctor. Sometimes when we emotional pain, it pays to seek a trained professional.
When is professional help a good idea?
When we find that we are unable to function or take care of our daily responsibilities.
If we can not control our thoughts and we are concerned.
Thoughts of not wanting to live or harm others.
Suffering from emotional pain for prolonged periods of time.
Having been through a crisis or traumatic event.
At the recommendation of someone who knows you very closely.
It also helps to recognize there are different reasons for emotional and mental health problems.
It also helps to recognize there are different reasons for emotional and mental health problems.
Our Response to Powerful Emotions
Our Response to Powerful Emotions
Scripture reveals healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with emotions.
Scripture reveals healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with emotions.
To find wholeness, we must acknowledge and address emotions so we can create appropriate responses.
To find wholeness, we must acknowledge and address emotions so we can create appropriate responses.
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
How did Jacob show that he loved Joseph more than his other sons? (verse 3) ____________________________________________________
What emotions did Joseph’s brothers experience? ____________________________________________________
How did they handle their emotions? ____________________________________________________
Acknowledging: “Hi anger, I see you!”
Acknowledging: “Hi anger, I see you!”
Addressing: “Hmmm, anger, what am I going to do about you?”
Addressing: “Hmmm, anger, what am I going to do about you?”
Questions to ask ourselves:
Questions to ask ourselves:
Now that I have acknowledged how I feel, what am I going to do about it?
Is this problem solvable?
Whose responsibility is it, mine or someone else’s?
Could things be different if I talked to someone?
Do I need to remove myself from the situation?
Can my circumstance change, or do I need to change my thinking about my circumstance?
Three ways to address the problem:
Three ways to address the problem:
Change my situation.
Leave my situation.
Change my thinking about my situation.
Establishing New Habits
Establishing New Habits
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
When we follow Paul’s instructions, what will be the result? (verse 7) ____________________________________________________
What criteria does Paul give for our thoughts? (verse 8) _______________________________________________________
What might be some benefits of filtering our thoughts accordingly? _______________________________________________________
How can we purposely redirect our thoughts to something more positive? _______________________________________________________
Closing
Closing
To be emotionally whole, we must form good habits.
To be emotionally whole, we must form good habits.
Paul’s instructions to pursue peace and guard our hearts and thoughts are the principles behind forming habits for wholeness.
Paul’s instructions to pursue peace and guard our hearts and thoughts are the principles behind forming habits for wholeness.
As we do so, God will give us peace.
As we do so, God will give us peace.