Emotional Fitness during the Holidays~
Is it possible to remain emotionally fit during the holidays!?!?! People are super busy scurrying around not looking where they are going and running into you! You are trying not to offend anyone as you discuss the current news at the table. There never seems to be enough time to finish shopping and decorating. You want everything to be perfect as you are hosting…are you really having fun!?!
Here are some helpful tips for our emotions to stay healthy and happy during this season!
1. Be thankful for friends and family! Love is the most important thing! And be so thankful that God came to earth and paid our sin debt for us so we won’t have to pay it ourselves in hell when we choose to receive his eternal gift of salvation!
1 Thessalonians 1:2-We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers. 2 Corinthians 5:21-God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John 3:16-17-“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
2. Love yourself! You are an amazing child of the most high God! You were created in the mind of God before you became a little baby! God had his thoughts on you well before your birth! He made you individually, to be unlike anyone else in the entire world! God loves you and made you un-like no other with gifts and talents only you can bring to the world and to shine your light God wants you to shine! You don’t have to people-please as you already have God’s most high pleasure and favor and love! Job 33:4-The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Jeremiah 1:5-Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations. Ephesians 2:10-For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
3. Seek to lift up someone who may be going through a difficult time or spending the holidays for the first time alone. This will also help you feel more useful and purposeful.
Galatians 6:2-Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. This verse commands Christians to continue to encourage and lift up fellow followers of Jesus.
3. Cast your cares on God-1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Just throw it on him, and let him carry your burdens. Jesus said we could cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us! There is nothing we are going through that we cannot cast on the Lord. Jesus was the only one acceptable and sinless who could take it for us anyway!
4. Forget your past and don’t dwell on it, especially over the holidays.
Isaiah 43:18- Forget the things that happened in the past. Do not keep on thinking about them. I am about to do something new. It is beginning to happen even now.
Philippians 3:13-14-Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:5- casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
5. Forgive everyone including yourself for stupid mistakes. Unforgiveness only hurts and punishes ourselves. Holding on to hurt, anger or unforgiveness can cause sickness, stress, anxiety and disease or dis-ease in our bodies and you will be in more pain from these symptoms as well. Let it go. Remember Jesus was mocked, laughed at, spit upon and called names. He took this awful and unfair treatment so we don't have to. Remember He took it for us and remember your rightful place in His kingdom because of what He did for you! We are His Righteousness! 2 Corinthians 5:21- For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 4:31-32-Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
6. Call an old friend just to say hi!
Colossians 3:12- You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Ephesians 4:2-Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another.
7. Renew our minds with the Word of God and this will heal our emotions, will and heart.
Romans 12:1-2-Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
8. Laugh more, enjoy your life and see good days ahead by believing this can be so! As you think in your heart so you will be! (Proverbs 23:7) Don't take yourself so seriously!
9. We have all heard “fake it until you make it”. I believe this means keep doing the next best thing, do what you know to do and then more will be revealed. As we walk in obedience to His Word in a matter, God will show us more as we are faithful in little. And keep trusting God! Luke 16:10-“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Proverbs 3:4-6-Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
10. Stop dwelling on the negative and be positive! We walk by faith, (2 Corinthians 5:7) its our faith that pleases God, (Hebrews 11:6) and we should be calling those things that be not as though they are (Romans 4:17)! And It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13. It seems we can begin believing on positive things to come and also keep thanking God in advance for believing He does have better days ahead! I believe this with all of my heart! Stay healthy in your soul, body and spirit but especially your soul which is your mind, will and emotions. Don’t let your emotions lead you- let your born again Holy spirit lead you, God’s truth, God’s Word should influence our soul and emotions. We are SPIRIT beings with a soul-mind will and emotions and we live in a body. Don’t confuse the hierarchy order here! Spirit rules our soul-mind, will and emotions then our bodies will follow!
Happy Emotionally fit week to you!! Let's live here forever fit in every area of live as we seek to walk by faith, live by faith in God's promises, speak them by faith over our lives, forgive by faith and believe by faith the best is yet to come!
Because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 1 John 5:4
Kate
