Welcome to Wallace Swilleys monthly “Power Talk”, developed specifically for people who want to create better lives for themselves.  

             In my last Power Talk I discussed that everything you and I do in life; we do either out of our need to avoid pain or our desire to gain pleasure. Today I want to talk about emotions.

According to statistics millions of Americans are locked in emotional battles costing millions of dollars for drugs and therapy.  Every day the news is filled with the tragic results of emotions out of control.  When I teach about the stress and strain of emotions in our visits around the nation the response is overwhelming and very rewarding.  If you are going through an emotional battle or know of someone please pass this on to them.

God created everyone with emotions, but He never intended for your emotions to control you. You can and must take authority over unruly negative emotions.  I believe you can become emotionally invincible. Luke 10:19 AMP “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses); and nothing shall in any way harm you.”  This is the infallible Word of God not man, believe it, trust it, and take charge over anything and everything the enemy attacks you with.  This is you right -- exercise it NOW. You have the authority and power to refuse emotions that will rule or ruin your life. 

Emotions are defined as, “feelings on the inside, caused by pain or pleasure, trying to move you in a direction.”  Uncontrolled, negative emotions will build strongholds in your life, such as depression, hurt, frustration, disappointment, anger, or being overwhelmed that will abort God’s will for your destiny and cripple your effectiveness where God has placed you. Why not allow these emotions to be a wakeup call to examine why you are feeling the way you do. 

This way your emotions can become your ally, your friend, your mentor and coach.  Allow them to guide you through life’s soaring highs and its demoralizing lows.  To do this you must change your beliefs about what emotions are.  They are not predators or products of other people’s whims.  They are signals trying to guide you to the promise of a greater quality life.  Realize that the emotions that you are feeling this very moment are a gift, a guideline, a support system, a call to action.  Don’t suppress your emotions and try to drive them out of your life, or magnify them and allow them to take over everything.  If you do you’re squandering one of life’s most precious resources.

What are your emotions trying to tell you?  They’re telling you that what you’re currently doing is not working.  It may be the way you are perceiving things or the actions you’re taking.  If what you’re doing is not working you must change the way you’re responding to you’re emotions.  Your action signals are whispering to you (perhaps screaming!), through the experience of pain, that you need to take positive action.

For some you’ve become weary fighting and wonder what next let me offer some simple suggestions you can use.

Many people try to avoid or deny negative emotions or worse they try not to feel any emotions at all.  Ultimately you can’t avoid emotional feelings.  A more powerful approach is to find the hidden positive meaning in your emotions. The solution is under standing them and using them to grow stronger. Read James chapter one…

  Many people stop fighting their painful emotions and decide to fully indulge them.  Woe is me, I’ve been treated wrong, and I’m misunderstood.  This is one of the deadliest traps of all.  It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You can’t run from your emotions. Emotions are an internal compass that points you towards the action you must take to arrive at your goals.  Without knowing how to use this compass you’ll forever be at the mercy of any emotional blows that come your way and become dependant upon any number of so called “crutches” for survival.  These crutches will eventually destroy you.

We must stand guard at the doorways of our minds.  Some things we can grant entrance; to other things we deny entrance.  We must send away harmful influences that would invade and attempt to conquer us. You don’t “catch” negative emotions you create them.  

There is no situation in your life to difficult for God to turn around. God will do exactly what you believe He can do. We are the product of our thoughts Pro. 23:7. Feeling sorry for yourself is not the answer.  Blaming others is not the answer.  Drugs are not the answer.  You can’t do better than meditating on the Word and depending on the Holy Spirit.  This is how Paul controlled his emotions when locked in prison for long periods of time with no drugs or councilors to help him?  He acted on the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.  So can you!  There is no situation in your life too difficult for God to turn around. No weapon formed against you will prevail.  Isa. 54:17

An old proverb I have quoted hundreds of times, “Direct your thoughts, control your emotions and you will ordain your destiny.”

Here is another scripture to go with Luke 10:19. Phil 4:13 (AMP) says, “I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).”    

Dear Lord I speak to those who are battling some negative emotion.  It’s not an easy battle however it’s a winnable battle according to your Word. I speak victory to every one receiving this message you have given me and to those it will be passed on to.  Thank you for your help and concern for each of us.  Amen! 

Send me your prayer request.  I will keep them right here in my office where I spend many hours of prayer and study.

There is an old song we use to sing “Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.”  Do it!

I am so pleased by your responses to my Power Talks.

Be blessed, Wallace Swilley