When circumstances turn sour in your life do you respond with your emotions or devotions?
As I see it, we have one or two ways to act when we experience painful circumstances. We can respond from our negative emotions (anger, resentment, jealousy, bitterness, despair, discouragement or depression) OR we can respond from our noble devotions (a form of worship with praise and adoration). It is a choice we have to make every time we experience someone or something coming against us.
Scripture is clear in instructing us in how to act. Ephesians 4:22-24 says (paraphrased) that we are to put off our old self (anger, resentment, jealousy) and put on our new self (who is like God, loving, caring, kind, gentle, etc.).
Whoa! How do we do that?
By worship.
By setting aside our negative emotions and offering God our noble devotions. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says (paraphrased) to give thanks to God in all things because it is His will for us.
You have authority over your emotions. In John 16:32-33, Jesus says that in this present world we will have trouble but cheer up! Why? Because He has overcome the world.
But, how do we cheer up when things are tough? By resting in Him. In Him is peace, but in the world we will have trouble. We rest in Him through worship.
It is within our power to harness our emotions and not give into their demands.
How do we go from jealousy to joy, from blowing a fuse to bowing our face, from seeing red to saying reconciliation? By our devotion, by praising God in all things.
It is a choice, choose wisely.