Becoming Emotionally Fit Week 3

A biblical exploration into what it means to be emotionally fit with Joseph Wimbush.  

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Good morning, brothers. Good Monday morning. Welcome back to week three of our men's devotional. I am Brother Joseph Wimbush from the Word of God Christian Center, and I will be continuing my segment on emotional fitness. Let's get started. Now emotional fitness can almost be like physical fitness, where it involves strength, flexibility, and agility. Strength. Emotional strength is the ability to manage emotions, adapt to challenges, and maintaining composure under stress. Also, it's the ability to withstand and engage with intense emotions without becoming overwhelmed or detached. It's about coping with challenges and being able to bounce back. Amen. Some examples are staying calm when you receive harsh criticism rather than lashing back. Being resilient, able to quickly adapt from setbacks and disappointments. Recognizing one's own emotional states and need, and having the courage to express them or seek support. Flexibility. Emotional flexibility is the ability to adapt your emotional responses to changing circumstances, maintain balance in the face of challenges, and shift perspectives rather than sticking to ineffective reactions. It allows individuals to experience both positive and negative emotions authentically, promoting resilience and acceptance. Some examples are instead of becoming angry when your flight is canceled, accept the frustration, take a deep breath, and explore alternative options. Had a bad day at work. Adjust your attitude on your drive home. Listen to soothing music. Change your thoughts to positive. Leave the stress in your rearview mirror. In an argument. You want to stop. Breathe. And take a long pause. Consider their point of view. Even if it contradicts your views. Amen. Agility. Emotional agility is the skills, the skill to transition smoothly between different emotional states. The ability to navigate life challenges with a flexible mindset, allowing individuals to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions effectively. Some examples are you get a poor performance review from your boss. Treat that feedback as data. Reflect on it. Then create a plan for improvement. You didn't get that promotion. Don't suppress it. Acknowledge the pain. Reflect and make the positive changes for your growth. Take the necessary steps toward completing your new goals. Your teenager. Your teenager leaves your bathroom in a mess. You get the urge to yell at them. Instead of reacting impulsively, take a moment to recognize your irritation. It's important to address the mess, but it's more crucial in maintaining a good relationship with your teenager. Instead of yelling, you calmly remind them to clean up, aligning your responses with your values of respect and communication. This approach not only addresses the immediate issue, but it also fosters a better relationship with your child. Emotional traits found in the Bible. These emotional traits, your strength, your flexibility, and your agility can be found throughout the Bible. We can find emotional strength in Genesis 37. We read about Joseph. He was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing. He endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by the ones he helped. He survived and prospered, and most of us would have failed. Joseph managed his emotions by recognizing God's providence. He chose forgiveness over bitterness. Amen. We can find emotional flexibility in Acts 16. When Paul and Silas were en route to other parts of the country, the Holy Spirit prevented them. They had to abandon their plans. They moved toward a new direction, a new direction God had called them to. Amen. We can find agility. We read Nehemiah chapter 4. Nehemiah chapter 4, it read it tells you when the enemies conspired against building the Jerusalem wall, he didn't react with panic, nor did he retaliate. Nehemiah demonstrated self-control by stationing guards at the wall and stayed focused on the work of the wall, trusting in God's protection. Amen. David had to have strength and agility when he went against uh Goliath. Amen. And Noah. Noah had to have strength, agility, and flexibility dealing with all those people, discouraging him and questioning him about building this ark that he was building. They had no rain. They didn't know what rain was. So he had to go, he had to deal with a whole lot of a whole lot of discouragement, retaliation, but he stayed focused on completing his mission that God had gave him of building the ark. And of course, Abraham. Abraham had to have strength when he had to take his son up to that mountain for it to be a sacrifice. That took a whole lot of strength and faith. Amen. Brothers, in this lifetime, we're going to go through a roller coaster of emotions, a lot of ups and downs. Amen. Brother Mike mentioned last month, just like physical fitness, we will encounter emotional burnout and exhaustion. Elijah in first King, after his great spiritual victory on Mount Carmel, he fell into a deep, deep depression. Amen. If we are not in control of our emotions, fear and anxiety will creep his ugly head into our minds, into our thoughts, and even into our dreams. Let's not get burnt out. Let's rest in the Lord. Let's receive his peace. Let your mind and your body be rejuvenated, be renewed and reset by God's word. Wait on the Lord. Wait on the Lord. He will not let you down. He shall and he will renew your strength. Well, look, brother, that's all I have for today. I hope you all got something of something out of this. Something out of this segment for today. But look, stay positive and stay blessed. And until next week, God bless you all.