Get Up Out Your Feelings!

On this journey with God, I'm learning so much about emotions and the role they play in not only everyday life, but also the faith we have in God. God is teaching me in this season that we can't allow how we feel about a situation to dictate our outcomes and have so much dominion over our decision making process.

I've always considered myself to be more emotional than the average person. I've always felt things deeply, and throughout my life, that has worked in my favor and worked against me simultaneously. It's worked in my favor because it's given me the opportunity to have true compassion for people, to be a servant and help anyone I come in contact with if they need it, no matter the circumstance. It works against me because in a lot of predicaments when I am done wrong, or someone offends me, it cuts me deeper than the average person because I don't understand why they think what they're doing or how they're being is okay.

But I'm grateful to God, that I am coming out of a season of offense, and recognizing my triggers, and walking in a life that honors "The Fruits of the Spirit." I can confidently say, "I'm Getting Up Out My Feelings!" LOL

Feelings!

We all experience several different feelings and emotions on a day to day basis. But God revealed to me recently that a lot of us are creating stronger relationships and bonds with God, however, when it's time to choose between Him and how we feel, we rather choose the feeling. The feeling validates what is happening in the moment, it gives you a sense of control, it may even make you TEMPORARILY feel better. So because it plays this role, instead of seeking God when we are offended and WAITING for a response to gain understanding, we act off of what our emotions tell us to do. That can look like overthinking, assuming, calling a friend to chat, allowing anger or sadness to settle, or sometimes just being plain out nasty, irritable, and in your feelings! But the long-term effects, come with repercussions that are totally not worth it.

It is for this very reason, we have to get to a place where we allow God to reign and rule over our feelings and emotions. God showed me that I had to get myself in a position where my faith and understanding in God dictated whatever circumstance I was enduring and not my emotions. He showed me that there are so many breakthroughs, so many blessings, so much overflow we miss out on because we rather go off of how we feel instead of just being obedient. God will give us an opportunity to step out of the norm, or give us a test that determines if we are ready for what we keep asking Him for, we get the chance, and decide it's too hard, or too awkward, or we aren't ready. The truth of the matter is, with growth, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

I want to share a situation that just recently happened to me, to give better understanding. Just last week, I was making a trip to the garbage and I walked past my neighbor and said, "Hey, how are you?" This man looked me right in my face, gave me the nastiest look, ignored me, and kept walking. I know many of you can probably relate to this. I almost immediately felt some type of way because it was so awkward. I was so bubbly and just happy to speak and he really carried ya girl. I did the right thing, and didn't say anything, I just continued on my way and said to myself, "MMM, God bless him." Fast forward just a few days ago, I'm taking the trash again, and I see the same man. This time, he says, "Good Afternoon." Yall already knew I was like.... ohhhhhh nowwww youuuuu wannnttttt toooo spppeaakkkkkk." But I thought about these feelings and emotions God has been working with me on and I decided to speak anyway. God was at the center of my emotions because God knows, if I went off of my feelings, it wouldn't have been that. I share this story in hopes that we all begin to realize sometimes people are doing the best they can when you encounter them. Maybe he didn't have a hello in him, maybe he wasn't having the best day... The thing about it is, in order for you to come up with these logical reasons, you have to take what happened to God. You'd be surprised, sometimes you may have THOUGHT they were talking about you, or THOUGHT they were looking at you some type of way, when in all actuality it's you being ALL UP IN YOUR FEELINGS that made you believe it. It doesn't make it right, but when you know who God has called you to be, and the assignment in your life, you know better, so you must do better. No excuses.

If you believe in Christ, you were not called to be of the world. So what if they've offended you. It's important to submit your flesh, will and emotions unto God so that you can operate in the ways that are pleasing to Him. Fighting flesh with flesh, will always have a negative impact.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6: 12 (NKJV)

Triggers!

If you ever sit with yourself and do a deep self reflection and you realize you are offended or feel some type of way about a lot of things, you may want to ask God to search your heart. After asking Him to search your heart, ask Him to reveal to you the triggers in your life and their roots. Triggers are not an excuse to act out of emotions. The world doesn't care if you struggle with abandonment, if you were molested, if you feel invisible, if you feel left out, if you've changed for the better, but God does. And that is the only person you can go to. Triggers shouldn't get to dictate your emotions and how you react to things. We all have a story. I'm sure many of us can think of more than 10 things that have happened in our lives, that made us the way we are today. But as a believer, you have to go to God and find peace with those things we've experienced.

Life is going to be life, people are going to be people. There is no running from it. If you are like me and suffer from different triggers, it is your duty to make yourself aware. Find out the root, so that when it comes forth, you're able to nip it in a bud early. You're able to speak on it with a clear mind. Express yourself with a clean heart and understand yourself and be able to explain why you feel triggered when you do.

I was talking to my dad recently and he told me, "When you figure out what triggers the emotion, you can control the emotion." You will know when this happens, I feel this or that way. Therefore, when that thing happens you can manage it better.

There is a reason why you are offended all the time. There is a reason why you are always seeking to be offended. There is a reason why certain things make you mad, or sad. Seek those reasons. If you look hard enough like I did, often times, you'll realize you're your own trigger. You haven't forgiven yourself, or deep down you know that you haven't completely gotten rid of that part of you. You want to believe you're past it, but if you were it wouldn't trigger you into emotions and feelings that are not of God. Take a second and truly think, "If I have truly been delivered, should things involving something that once triggered me still stir up ungodly emotions?"

Application-

I hope this blog has inspired you to GET UP OUT YOUR FEELINGS! Cast your cares unto God for He cares for YOU! It's time to be honest with ourselves, its time to live in the light. Address those things you still hold on to. There is work in the Earth that needs to be done. You are holding yourself back from all you could be doing because of how you feel! How silly is that? People are not going to do what you feel they should do, or act the way you think they should act. You can't control them, but you can control how you respond to them. Learn to address situations in a Godly manner and allow Him to do the rest.

Prayer

Dear God, we want to take a moment to thank you for being God all by yourself. God we invite you in today to be Lord over our feelings and emotions. We invite you into our lives and ask that you expose us to our triggers. Search our hearts and show us how to deal with our triggers head on. Lord we rebuke the spirit of complacency. God we will not settle in the things that are hindering us from our season of breakthrough. Forgive us for the times we have been disobedient to our voice. Clean our hearts God. We thank you for all that you've done, all that you're doing, and all that you are going to do! Lord I ask that you bless Hidden Treasures and that you guide and cover us on our journey as we continue to Heal, Evolve, and Rise together! AMEN!