Transforming Emotions: A Journey of Spiritual Renewal

 

Summary

In our journey through Lent, we are focusing on the renewal of our hearts, guided by Dallas Willard's "Renovation of the Heart." Today, we delve into the realm of feelings, which are both a blessing and a challenge in our spiritual formation. Feelings are central to our lives, often dictating our actions and reactions. They are like unruly children, demanding attention and often justifying themselves without question. Unlike thoughts, which can be challenged and reshaped, feelings often seem to reflect the reality of our world without scrutiny.

Dallas Willard highlights the power and complexity of emotions, noting that they can easily master us if we are not careful. Many people, including Christians, attempt to control their emotions through sheer willpower, believing they must choose joy or love. However, this approach often leads to self-deception and failure. Instead, we should aim to understand and systematically address our emotions, moving towards healthier emotional states.

We can visualize our emotions along two axes: positive or negative, and high or low energy. This creates four quadrants that help us understand where we often find ourselves emotionally. High-energy positive emotions, like those described in Psalm 28, are desirable but unsustainable without rest. Low-energy positive emotions, as seen in Psalm 23, offer a place of rest and restoration. High-energy negative emotions, such as King Saul's envy and anger, are destructive, while low-energy negative emotions, like Elijah's depression, can be debilitating.

To maintain emotional health, we must spend time in rest and restoration, allowing God to recharge us. This balance prevents us from being overwhelmed by negative emotions. As we walk through Lent, let us pause and reflect on our emotional state, asking God to guide us towards emotions that honor Him and bring life to those around us. Remember, we are not defined by our feelings; we are children of God, and through Jesus, our emotions can be transformed.

Key Takeaways:

- Feelings are central to our lives and spiritual formation, often demanding attention and justifying themselves without question. Unlike thoughts, feelings are not easily challenged, making them powerful yet potentially misleading. Understanding this distinction is crucial for spiritual growth. [01:11]

- Attempting to control emotions through willpower often leads to self-deception and failure. Instead, we should aim to understand and systematically address our emotions, moving towards healthier emotional states. This approach aligns with how life and the human will truly work. [04:50]

- Visualizing emotions along two axes—positive or negative, and high or low energy—helps us understand our emotional states. This framework allows us to identify where we often find ourselves emotionally and guides us towards healthier emotional balance. [06:52]

- Spending time in rest and restoration, as described in Psalm 23, is essential for maintaining emotional health. This balance prevents us from being overwhelmed by negative emotions and allows us to recharge and be ready for high-energy positive states. [09:28]

- We are not defined by our feelings; we are children of God. Through Jesus, our emotions can be transformed, allowing us to move towards emotions that honor God and bring life to those around us. This transformation is a key aspect of our spiritual journey. [10:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Introduction to Feelings
- [00:45] - Dallas Willard's Insights
- [01:11] - The Central Role of Feelings
- [01:54] - Self-awareness and Emotions
- [02:30] - The Attraction of Feelings
- [03:38] - The Power and Bondage of Emotions
- [04:08] - Misunderstanding Willpower
- [05:55] - Systematic Approach to Emotions
- [06:39] - Visualizing Emotions
- [07:04] - High-Energy Positive Emotions
- [07:31] - Low-Energy Positive Emotions
- [08:04] - High-Energy Negative Emotions
- [08:33] - Low-Energy Negative Emotions
- [09:54] - Rest and Restoration
- [10:09] - Identity Beyond Feelings
- [11:21] - Closing and Resources

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 28:7 - "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."
2. Psalm 23:1-3 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul."
3. 1 Kings 19:4 - "While he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, he came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'"

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how do feelings differ from thoughts in terms of their influence on our lives? [01:41]
2. What are the four quadrants of emotions described in the sermon, and how do they help us understand our emotional states? [06:52]
3. How does Psalm 28 illustrate high-energy positive emotions, and why are these emotions desirable yet unsustainable without rest? [07:04]
4. In what way does Psalm 23 represent low-energy positive emotions, and how does this relate to the concept of rest and restoration? [07:31]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon suggest that attempting to control emotions through willpower often leads to self-deception and failure? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual growth? [04:50]
2. How can visualizing emotions along the axes of positive/negative and high/low energy help individuals move towards healthier emotional states? [06:52]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of rest and restoration in maintaining emotional health, and how does this connect to the message of Psalm 23? [09:28]
4. How does the sermon describe the transformation of emotions through Jesus, and what role does this play in our identity as children of God? [10:25]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current emotional state. Which quadrant do you find yourself in most often, and what steps can you take to move towards a healthier emotional balance? [10:09]
2. Consider a time when you tried to control your emotions through sheer willpower. What was the outcome, and how might a different approach have led to a more positive result? [04:50]
3. Identify a high-energy negative emotion you have experienced recently. How can you address this emotion in a way that aligns with the sermon’s teachings on emotional health? [08:04]
4. Psalm 23 speaks of rest and restoration. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure you are spending time in rest and allowing God to recharge you? [09:28]
5. The sermon emphasizes that we are not defined by our feelings. How can you remind yourself of your identity as a child of God when faced with challenging emotions? [10:25]
6. Think of a situation where you felt overwhelmed by your emotions. How can you apply the sermon’s insights to approach similar situations differently in the future? [03:38]
7. How can you incorporate moments of reflection and prayer into your daily routine to better understand and manage your emotions? [10:41]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power and Influence of Feelings
Feelings are central to our lives and spiritual formation, often demanding attention and justifying themselves without question. Unlike thoughts, feelings are not easily challenged, making them powerful yet potentially misleading. Understanding this distinction is crucial for spiritual growth. Feelings can often seem like the most authentic part of our experience, but they can also lead us astray if left unchecked. They have the power to dictate our actions and reactions, sometimes without us even realizing it. Recognizing the role of feelings in our lives is the first step towards spiritual maturity. [01:11]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: Think about a recent situation where your feelings led you to react in a way you later regretted. How can you invite God into your emotional responses to guide you towards a more Christ-like reaction next time?


Day 2: Beyond Willpower: Understanding Emotions
Attempting to control emotions through willpower often leads to self-deception and failure. Instead, we should aim to understand and systematically address our emotions, moving towards healthier emotional states. This approach aligns with how life and the human will truly work. Emotions are complex and cannot be simply willed away. By acknowledging and understanding them, we can begin to address the root causes and move towards healing and transformation. This process requires patience and a willingness to be honest with ourselves about what we are truly feeling. [04:50]

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."

Reflection: Identify an emotion you often try to control through sheer willpower. What steps can you take to understand this emotion better and address its root cause?


Day 3: Mapping Our Emotional Landscape
Visualizing emotions along two axes—positive or negative, and high or low energy—helps us understand our emotional states. This framework allows us to identify where we often find ourselves emotionally and guides us towards healthier emotional balance. By categorizing our emotions, we can gain insight into our emotional patterns and learn how to navigate them more effectively. This understanding can help us to seek balance and avoid being overwhelmed by high-energy negative emotions or becoming stuck in low-energy negative states. [06:52]

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (ESV): "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."

Reflection: Reflect on your current emotional state. Which quadrant do you find yourself in most often, and what steps can you take to move towards a healthier emotional balance?


Day 4: The Necessity of Rest and Restoration
Spending time in rest and restoration, as described in Psalm 23, is essential for maintaining emotional health. This balance prevents us from being overwhelmed by negative emotions and allows us to recharge and be ready for high-energy positive states. Rest is not just a physical necessity but a spiritual one as well. It is in rest that we can find restoration and renewal, allowing us to face life's challenges with a refreshed spirit. [09:28]

Isaiah 30:15 (ESV): "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.'"

Reflection: Consider your current schedule and commitments. How can you intentionally incorporate periods of rest and restoration into your week to maintain emotional and spiritual health?


Day 5: Our Identity Beyond Feelings
We are not defined by our feelings; we are children of God. Through Jesus, our emotions can be transformed, allowing us to move towards emotions that honor God and bring life to those around us. This transformation is a key aspect of our spiritual journey. Our identity in Christ provides a foundation that is not shaken by the ebb and flow of our emotions. By anchoring ourselves in this truth, we can experience a transformation that aligns our emotions with God's will. [10:25]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Reflect on how you define yourself. Are there areas where you allow your feelings to dictate your identity? How can you root your identity more deeply in your relationship with Christ?

Quotes


Feelings are a primary blessing and a primary problem for human life. We cannot live without them; we can hardly live with them. Hence, they are central for spiritual formation in the Christian tradition. Our first inquiry when we greet people for the day is likely to be, "How are you feeling today?" Rarely will it be, "How are you thinking?" Feelings live on the front row of our lives like unruly children clamoring for attention. [00:01:04]

The attraction of feeling to human minds is so great that we project it onto the angels. One of the most common themes found in literary and artistic portrayal of angels is how they desire to feel what human beings feel, many what they're capable of feeling because they have bodies. [00:02:36]

No one can succeed in mastering feelings in his or her life who tries to take them head on and resist or redirect them by willpower in the moment of choice. This is what so many people do, including so many people often who are Christians, people of faith. "I must try harder; I must choose joy; I must choose to feel loving today." [00:04:15]

Those who continue to be mastered by their feeling, Dallas writes, whether it's anger, fear, sexual attraction, desire for food, looking good, the residues of woundedness, or whatever, are typically persons who in their heart of hearts believe their feelings must be satisfied. They have long chosen the strategy of selecting, resisting their feelings instead of that of not having, of simply changing or replacing them. [00:05:18]

We might think of emotions running along a couple of axes so that on the vertical axis, an emotion can either be positive—I look forward to this, it's good, it's pleasant—or it can be negative—I don't want it. And then my emotions can also be either high energy or they can be low energy, and that will give us then four quadrants for thinking about our emotions. [00:06:23]

If we were to think about scripture on in this quadrant where I have a high level of energy and the emotions very positive, you might think about a line in Psalm 28 where David says, "With the help of the Lord, I can crush a troop; with the power of God, I can leap over a wall." If you're leaping over walls, that's high energy, and there's tremendous confidence. [00:07:05]

Over here where the energy is pleasant but it's more relaxed, it's more calm, we might think about Psalm 23, and we'll talk about that more as we talk about emotions, that God makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me besides still waters; he restores my soul. That is a very good place to be recharged by God. [00:07:34]

High energy but it's unpleasant, you might think about a character in the Bible, King Saul, and in First Samuel chapter 18, when David is having great successes, we're told that King Saul is envious of David and his anger flares, and he is afraid, and he actually tries to kill David. So both fear and anger are high energy emotions, but they're negative. [00:08:05]

Low energy unpleasant, we might think of a character in the Bible named Elijah in First Kings chapter 19. Elijah has had an amazing run where he has defied the prophets of Baal, testified on behalf of God, told about the coming of rain, outrun the king's chariot on a run of like 18 miles, and then all of a sudden, instead of leaping over a wall, he hits a wall. [00:08:37]

We need lots of time here, these moments when you and I are together as we walk through Lent. This really is lying down in green pastures, being next to still waters, having our souls restored. If we don't get enough time here, if we try to always be in this place here, we're going to end up down here or down here, and that's what happened to Elijah. [00:09:20]

In this still time before God, we will learn together that while our feelings are very, very important, we are not our feelings. You are not your feelings. You are not simply anger or fear or sadness or happiness. We are children of God, and as we follow Jesus, we will find he is able to remake even our emotions. [00:10:09]

The Lord is your shepherd, and if you allow him to be your shepherd, if you lie down in green pastures and besides to every once in a while, you're going to leap over a wall. [00:11:00]

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Transcript
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