Becoming "Aimotional":

Our emotions are a gift from God, with a function and a purpose. They are meant to work for us.

"Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air." 1Corinthians 9:26.

For most of my life, my emotions ruled me. I did whatever they dictated, even when it didn't make sense or was harmful. Like an out of control, never ending roller coaster, they took me to manic states of euphoria and dropped me to dark, depressive pits. They were loud and convincing and drowned out all reason. Then, I learned the skill of becoming aimotional.

Because emotions are such a powerful force, we must learn how to manage them, or they will manage us. God's AIM for our emotions is that they be:

1. Acknowledged - There is no darkness in God (1 John 1:5) When we feel something, it's important that we don't deny it. God already knows it and we need to identify it so we can properly direct it.

2. Informative - Our emotions reveal our thought life climate. When we examine them, we can learn their root source and thought connections. This exposes how a particular mood was formed by identifying the thinking that contributed to it.

3. Meeting Place. God's purpose for our emotions is that they function as an acknowledged, informative meeting place of connection with Himself and others. Emotions are what make us a human and bond us to each other. They help us love our neighbors as ourselves.

God's aim for our emotions is connection, Satan's is disconnection.

Satan has an AIM for our emotions, too. He wants them to be:

1. Amplified - When our emotions are our sole perspective, they become bigger than anything else. They have the ability to confuse and make us forget what is true. Satan will use lies, memories and fear to keep us focused on what we feel, rather than what's real.

2. Ignored - When we pretend or disconnect from our emotions, we are denying their existence and engaging a lie. Satan wants us to ignore certain emotions so we will disconnect from God, ourselves and others.

3. Manipulated - Satan wants our emotions amplified or ignored so he can manipulate them. Ignored emotions can't do their job of connecting, amplified emotions take over and disregard truth. He wants us to make choices based solely on feelings and not facts. His goal is to get us to miss the mark.

Indicators vs Motivators

When we choose to become aimotional; choosing God's purpose and direction for our emotions, we bring order back to our lives. We don't have to live in denial of them or be controlled by them.

When a strong emotion arises, we can treat it as an indicator of the direction of our thoughts and not the main motivator for a decision. We can learn balance. We can make them work for us.

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Prayer to become aimotional: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of my emotions. Please help me to allow them to be an acknowledged, informative meeting place with you and others. Teach me not to ignore them or amplify them. Make me aware of when I'm doing this and give me the grace to honor them, without letting them rule. In Christ's name, amen.

All rights reserved Veronica Jimenez, Sound Mind Awareness ©2014.