Tag Archives: emotions

Definition of Insanity?

Posted on by

In recovery programs, they say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. The reference is usually made about addiction.

And it’s true. We think THIS time will be different. THIS time we can handle it.

It’s insane because it’s not true. And really, it’s just a trick of the devil to make us even consider otherwise.

But with addiction issues behind me, I thought this concept would go away. I solely related it to addiction and that was that.

The truth is, anything we do over and over expecting different results is insanity. Or as Phoebe Buffay would say, IT’S MADNESS!

And that’s where I’ve found myself this week. On the other end of pure madness wondering how on earth I let the same thing happen again.

This week has been incredible. I’ve had a song in my heart, peace in my soul, and a spring in my step. To me, this is normal. It’s what I expect out of my life.

It wasn’t until my husband started questioning it that I realized it had been gone for a little while. I’d say the devil stole it but the truth is, I just handed it to him on a silver platter.

I wrote last week about how I’d allowed my emotions to take center stage and destroy my happiness as well as putting a few dings in my relationships. I don’t think I realized the magnitude of what I’d lost even then.

It wasn’t until the peace and joy had been fully restored to my life that I realized it’d been gone.

And then I realized just how many times I keep coming to that exact same realization.

It’s like investing in a top-rated, high-tech security system for your home and then leaving your front door wide open when you leave.

Pure insanity.

Father, forgive me. And help me to guard the things that matter most- the peace and joy that come from You alone- so that I may live abundantly in Christ. Amen.

Emotions are of the devil?!!

Posted on by

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I came to a startling revelation that changed everything.

Allowing my emotions to control me is a sin.

What?

Wait.

Why?

I’ve always liked that I’m a sensitive, sentimental person. It gives me compassion and perspective.

I don’t always like that I cry over commercials, cheesy endings that you see a mile away, and book endings.

But, hey, that’s the way God made me.

Or so I thought.

To be clear, it is true that He made me sensitive and with a childlike heart. These are good things.

But He also put His Spirit in me, a Spirit that should have dominance over my emotions, not the other way around.

Emotions are a work of the flesh and in the flesh is no good thing. (Romans 7:18) By allowing my emotions to control me, I’ve reacted negatively to situations; I’ve grossly overreacted at times; and I’ve robbed myself of peace and joy by allowing these emotions  to take up valuable headspace.

Want proof that the devil is involved? Picture a brand new car as a relationship with someone you love. Shiny and new, you are excited to take it for a spin. Then an ill-timed comment, a misinterpreted text comes along and puts a little ding in your new car. It’s okay, it’s still nice and new and the dent is barely noticeable. But then your feelings get hurt over a slight, real or perceived, doesn’t matter, so you say what’s on your mind. A bigger dent. The longer you go, the more dings you get. The more you overreact, the bigger the dent. In fact, because you’ve let your emotions control you, your car ends up looking like Herbie after Tripp sold him to the demolition derby.

And the devil wins.

I’ve been the absolute worst at letting my flesh control me this year. Only I didn’t realize until now that by making everything about me, nothing was about Him.

And I’m truly sorry to those who were hurt in the process.