Emotion, Faith, and Discipline

"Be angry and do not sin..."  Paul writes these words in his letter to the Ephesians, quoting from Psalm 4 (a Psalm that I am really familiar with, as it formed the basis of one of my doctoral papers).  That short little statement brings to mind three things which fit in with my thoughts on discipline and the various areas of life in which God desires for us to be disciplined.

First, our emotions.  As people who were created in God's image, despite losing the perfection of that image, we still share some characteristics with Him.  Our emotional being is one of those characteristics.  Yes, God's emotional state is perfect, unlike ours.  And that is why discipline is needed in our emotional well-being.  We live in full forgiveness for our inability and sinfulness in terms of our emotions, and yet, in response to God's good news, we also strive to keep from sinning in our emotions.  "...do not sin..."

Next, our faith.  As a gift from God, we believe not only in our forgiveness through Jesus and the cross, but also that God created and designed us according to His design.  What God says about our emotions is what is best for our well-being, and His divine expectation.  We aren't able to live up to that expectation, and thus cling to the forgiveness of the cross and Christ's perfect life (and perfect emotional state) as God's means of bringing us to His eternal presence, where our emotional state will be perfected completely.  And, as a response to God's gifts of grace, we then also strive to bring our emotions in line with what He says.

Discipline.  Because we are not perfect or sinless, true, perfect discipline is impossible for us.  We will deny our emotions, or at times, let them get the best of us.  As a Christian response, not out of obligation or the hope of perfection, but as a response to God's goodness and grace, we strive for emotional discipline.  And, let's face it.  Being emotionally disciplined also helps to create better relationships with our fellow man (which, incidentally, is one means in which God spreads His message of Good News!). 

So how do we become more disciplined in our emotional well-being.  Tune in tomorrow for thoughts and discussion!