Emotions

I am working on actually feeling my emotions, especially uncomfortable ones such as anger, fear, hurt and loneliness, instead of attempting to avoid them or "medicate" them.
In this week's Bible study, the author says, "When we go ahead and feel the emotion and talk about it with God, rather than trying to avoid it, we actually get through it and over it because God's desire is to become intimately involved in our concerns and show us His love."
The goal is to not be afraid of feeling and expressing our emotions, while not allowing them to be more of an authority in our life than God's truth.

There is an acronym that Scope Ministries uses in relation to our emotions. It is REED.
The 'R' stands for "Recognize." Recognize and verbalize how you feel.
The first 'E' stands for "Express." Express your emotions to God. Avoid turning the emotion inward and imploding, and avoid turning the emotion outward towards others and exploding.
The second 'E' stands for "Evaluate." What do your emotions tell you about your thoughts and beliefs?
The 'D' stands for "Decide." We are to decide to replace our thinking and behavior with God's instruction and truth.

There are a few important points that Scope Ministries emphasize.
1. Emotions are morally neutral. No emotion is inherently sinful. But how we choose to respond to our emotions can be sinful. Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry and yet do not sin..." It does not say do not be angry or that anger is a sin. Instead, when we are angry, do not turn it into sin.
2. Emotions express God's character. Jesus felt every single emotion, including anger, grief, hurt and fear.
3. Emotions become messy when they seem more real to us than God's word. Do my emotions, or God's Word, act as my authority?