Destroyed from the inside out

Nothing destroys a person from the inside more than the root of bitterness.  It eats away at a person until the sweetness that was once there is dissolved and but a memory. Anger is a fire that can be used for good, but if left unchecked and not properly contained and dealt with, it can destroy and consume you.  You may wonder how anger can be used for good... it can help you to stand up and be a voice for the helpless, the abused, the poor. It can on the other hand divide families, cause divorces, and leave a person so bitter nothing seems to reach them.  So how do you balance the two?  I learned by reading a book called Overcoming Emotions That Destroy, by Chip Ingram, that anger is a secondary emotion, usually the result of an unmet need, unmet expectation, or hurt feelings.  It's important to identify the root of the problem and then find the most appropriate way to address it from there.  Communication is key, believe it or not other people can't read your mind and most of the time are clueless to why they have upset you, or that you are even upset at all. Second... deal with your emotions in a healthy manner, don't vomit your anger on other people, don't leak it through sarcastic comments, and don't stuff it inside and pretend you don't have problems (we all do!) Identify it, address it, move forward. Learn you don't need an apology to move forward, sometimes just saying a prayer for someone is about as freeing as hearing the words I am sorry.

Life Can Be A Whrilwind

Life is a whirlwind of emotions, if left unchecked our emotions can start to control us, dominate our personalities, and leave us in a tailspin.  As I have grown in my walk with God I have noticed how important it is for me to stay connected to him on a daily basis, otherwise I allow my out of control emotions to rule over me.  Years ago I would wake up feeling depressed and allow that feeling  to dictate how the rest of my day would go.  The funny thing about emotions is they can lie to you and lead you astray from God's path and purpose for your life. They can steal the joy of the present and keep us locked in our past.  The bible says the heart is deceitful above all else Jer. 17:9 so I have learned to guard my heart and align my thoughts with the word of God. This one key alone has saved me from feeling out of control in the ups and downs of life.  It has given me a new focus and passion to share with others the key to joy and happiness.  To keep a thankful heart, full of love, and to rely on what God says about me, because He, unlike my emotions is unchanging and His love for me is unfailing.