Exercise Praise!
Have you ever misplaced your keys and, at the height of frustration turned to your spouse and stormed, "Where did you put them?" It's a typical example of how, if we don't learn to direct our emotions, they will soon direct us! The result can be some pretty miserable nights if these emotions have been discharged in a hurtful way.
Even positive emotions such as joy can get us into trouble. Have you ever gotten an incredible "high" at a Sunday night service, only to come crashing down when "blue Monday" arrived? What can we do with these emotions?
I don't believe God wants us to put a clamp on them but learn to channel them more effectively. He has given us a way to constructively channel all our pent-up feelings, both positive and negative, in a way that builds us up spiritually and glorifies Him...it's called praise!
His Word tells us, "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name and make music to him with tambourine and harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people...let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds" (Psalm 149:2-5, NIV).
Hearing His instructions to sing for joy on your bed, you may be thinking, "How can I ever do this? I feel so far from being joyful." But the key is not to try to praise God for every state you're in but to exercise your renewed will to praise Him through it! Then, no matter how keyed up or how down in the dumps you are, He will be glorified!
God loves you and wants to answer your prayer. Say this prayer with me:
Dear Lord, thank you for providing a way for me to release all my pent-up emotions! Help me tonight to discover the power of praise. Teach me to exercise my renewed will to rise above even the most "hyper" or the most negative emotions and to learn to praise You through them! In Jesus' Name, Amen.