Bring Your Emotions Under Control

Lesson 1

Chapter 1: God’s Attitude Toward Emotions

Lesson 1

I. Emotions were created for enjoyment, therefore harness them. It’s God’s will for you.

Key Idea: God created emotions to be enjoyed, not denied or suppressed. 

  • The meaning of “harness” is to bring something under control and direct its force. 

  • God wants believers to control and direct emotions, not eliminate them. 

  • Negative experiences may cause people to withdraw emotionally, but this prevents healthy relationships and blessings. 

  • God did not create humans to become emotionally numb. 

Verses:

  • 1 John 4:8 – “God is love.” 

  • Ephesians 4:30 – We can grieve the Holy Spirit. 

II. Emotions Are Meant for Enjoyment

Key Idea: Emotions are part of being created in God’s image and are intended for good. 

  • Humans were created in God’s likeness, which includes emotions. 

  • Emotions bring joy, love, and meaning to life. 

  • Positive emotions enrich life and relationships. 

  • Though emotions are good, they can become harmful when uncontrolled. 

Verse:

  • Genesis 1:31 – God saw everything He made and called it good. 


III. Finding Hope for Emotional Stability

Key Idea: God offers hope for emotional peace and stability. 

  • The world often teaches coping instead of true healing. 

  • Emotional struggles such as depression affect many people. 

  • Jesus came to heal not only spiritual needs but emotional struggles. 

  • Emotional peace and stability are possible through God’s Word and trust in Him. 

  • Mental and emotional heath is a part of what Jesus came to bring.

  • There are truths and instructions in God’s word that, if followed and applied, it’s unconditionally guaranteed will cause you to live an emotionally stable life.

  • Secular psychologists just try to make people feel better by telling them that they should not worry about their lack of emotional stability. They shouldn’t look at themselves as being abnormal, because everyone else is as bad off as they are.

  • The Church has not really taught very much in the area of emotional stability. It feels like most of the teaching that comes forth from the Church deals with coping rather than controlling.

    Verse:

    • Isaiah 26:3 – God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds stay on Him.

IV. Responsibility for Emotions 

Key Idea: People are responsible for how they respond emotionally. 

  • Many believe emotions simply happen and cannot be controlled. 

  • Scripture shows God expects joyfulness and gladness. 

  • Negative circumstances do not excuse emotional instability. 

  • Emotions are not only responses; they involve responsibility and choice. 

Verses: 

  • Deuteronomy 28:45–48 – Israel was judged for not serving God with joyfulness and gladness of heart. 

Inspired by Andrew Wommack’s book - Harnessing Your Emotions

Discipleship Practical Questions & Answers

  • “Harness” means to bring something under control and direct its force. God wants believers to control and direct their emotions rather than let emotions control them.

  • Some people try to become emotionless because they have experienced emotional pain, rejection, or hurt and want to avoid future suffering.

  • It is wrong because God created humans with emotions, and trying to suppress them works against how He designed us.

  • The Bible says God is love, jealous, can be angry, and grieved, showing that emotions are part of His nature (1 John 4:8; Ephesians 4:30).

  • Emotions were created for enjoyment and to enrich life through experiences such as love, joy, and meaningful relationships.

  • Uncontrolled emotions can lead to depression, anger, bitterness, divorce, hurt feelings, and even destructive behaviors.

  • Emotional stability is possible through God’s help, His Word, and trusting Him instead of merely coping with emotions.

  • Secular psychology often focuses on making people feel better about their emotional instability, while the Church often teaches people to cope with emotions rather than gain victory over them.

  • Jesus came to bring emotional and mental healing as well as spiritual salvation. He paid the price for emotional restoration through His sacrifice.

  • A person experiences perfect peace by keeping their mind focused on God and trusting in Him.

  • It teaches that God expected His people to serve Him with joyfulness and gladness of heart, showing emotions matter to Him.

  • No. The lesson teaches that emotions are not just automatic reactions but involve responsibility, control, and choice.

Scriptures (KJV) 

1 John 4:8 (KJV) 

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV) 

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” 

Genesis 1:31 (KJV) 

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” 

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) 

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” 

Deuteronomy 28:45–48 (KJV) 

“Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: 

And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. 

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.” 

Next

Chapter 1 - Lesson 2