Take your life continually before God and He will change you into His likeness. Stuffing feelings might eventually lead to outbursts of emotions. Colossians 3:8 says that we are to put off and rid ourselves of unhealthy emotions.
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (
You can unload them and sort them out when you feel angry, confused, or hurt. We usually suppress them and put a lid on them or we explode. If they are stuffed, they can eventually become volcanic. Journaling is a healthy and safe way to take the lid off and diffuse them.
When your emotions feel like they are going to erupt, look at them by bringing them to God and sharing them with Him. He will pour His Holy Spirit on them and diffuse them. He will show you why you are so angry and how He wants you to respond.
Pay close attention. Many times as I write out my emotions I begin to see things I never saw before about the situation and about myself. I finally see why I do the things I do.
If you don’t deal with your feelings, they’ll deal with you or others in an unhealthy way. As you write them out before God, surrendering them, He will change your character.
Journaling your emotions will reveal to you how you are really feeling. Many times people do not even remember why they are so angry. Have you ever had that experience? Once you journal if you are still struggling, it’s time to wash with the water of God’s Word. God’s word has a cleansing effect.
God’s word is alive, full of cleansing and energizing power that can change you into who He created you to be, someone with a beautiful heart.
Through your interaction with God, He will continually knead your heart – the clay and will add the water of His word in order to expose and work out all of your impurities. As He kneads, you may feel pressure.
For example, God continually kneads my heart trying to work His love into it. When I am tempted to turn away from walking in love, He lovingly washes me with His word knowing that with just the right amount of water my heart will soften.
One night when I was really struggling with loving someone, He woke me up two times with this verse:
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
He was instructing me to love this person unconditionally. He seemed to be saying to my heart, “If you say you know Me, then you will walk in love, for God is love.”
Even though I struggle with it, and even though I might not feel like reading God’s word, I know I must, for He is trying to mold my heart into a vessel of love. It is never comfortable when God reveals my imperfections. And it will not be comfortable when He reveals yours. But if you yield to His hand, He will remove them.
Many people never journal because each time they try, they struggle not knowing where to begin.
Tips to Help You Get Started
Find a quiet spot.
Do not think too hard about what you are going to write.
Try not to edit your work.
There is no right or wrong way to journal. It is okay to make mistakes in spelling and in punctuation. This is the one place in your life where you can make a mess of things.
Allow God to minister to your heart. Do not be concerned if you do not hear Him speaking anything to your heart. In time this will come.
Use journaling as a tool to bring you closer to God and to record what He is doing in your life.
Begin by addressing your entry to God.
Examples:
Heavenly Father, I love You, please help me. I am so angry because…
Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me. I surrender my life to You. Today I sensed You speaking this to my heart…
Jesus, forgive me for….
God, I am not sure which direction to go. Please help me to know…
Or plainly: Today I………
Start Journalling.
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