How we respond in life is our testimony. Being emotionally reactive is essentially responding without Holy Spirit guidance. This often leads to sinful behavior and negative impacts in our relationships with others and with God.
Proverbs 25:28 states “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” We are called to walk like Jesus who was the ultimate example of humility, thoughtfulness and obedience to God’s will. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” It’s only after stepping out of emotional and spiritual survival mode when we can finally hear God’s voice and start to truly thrive mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Thrive-mode means being proactive in our faith by:
✅Preparing for trials through prayer and reading God’s Word (Romans 8:26)
✅Being of good cheer in times of tribulation (John 16:33)
✅Expecting help during trials (Psalm 34:17)
📋CHALLENGE: Take the time to evaluate past times where you were reactive and identify areas for improvement. What are your personal triggers for emotional reactivity (feeling angry, judged, afraid, insulted, rejected, frustrated, belittled, etc.)? Devise a plan to be proactive in how you handle negative emotions going forward.
TIP: Practice the Pause, Pray & Proceed method for proactively responding to your triggers and difficult emotions!
🙏🏻PRAYER: Ask God for forgiveness for acting on emotions, being prideful or impulsive and not walking in His Spirit. Ask God to empty your mind and heart and to fill you with His Spirit as you yearn to be holy like Jesus.
📖READ, REFLECT & RENEW:
- James 1:9 ~Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
- James 1:26 ~If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
*all scripture is KJV
Nicole—a licensed professional counselor and devoted Christ‑follower—is the heart and voice behind A Sound Mind Counselor, a space devoted to nurturing mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness through Scripture. Drawing on a unique blend of clinical expertise and spiritual insight, she offers faith‑based guidance rooted in God’s Word to help readers renew their minds, restore their souls, and revive their spirits.
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