Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Attitude”
Our Bible verse for today: “My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for a man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” James 1:19-20 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “You can control yourself.”
Yes, it’s true, you can control yourself. Whatever emotion or impulse we’re talking about, it can be controlled. In James 1:19-20 James was referring specifically to the emotion of anger. His remedy for outbursts of anger is to first listen to the other person and then pause before you reply. It’s like your Momma used to tell you, “Count to ten first.” The point is that we should not respond to situations based upon raw emotion. We need to pause long enough for emotions to subside and for logic to kick-in.
That’s a general rule that applies equally well to virtually any emotionally-charged situation. Whether we’re talking about anger, lust, greed, frustration, fear, or any number of other emotions, we need to pause before we respond. That’s how we control ourselves. That’s how we make sure our attitude is based on logic and not emotion.
One of the best techniques you can employ for creating that pause and regaining control is to focus on your breathing. Inhale deeply. Hold it for a moment and then let it out slowly. Do it several times. Do it ten times (just don’t hyperventilate, lol).
Controlling your breathing to control your emotions is actually scientifically proven to produce a chemical reaction within your body. When your emotions begin to rage your heart rate increases, your blood pressure goes up, your vision narrows, and your mind becomes sharply focused on the cause of your rising emotional response. But when you intentionally take control of your breathing in the manner just described, you heart rate decreases, your blood pressure goes down, your mind clears, and the emotions subside.
So you can use deep breathing to gain control of anger, to quiet a panic attack, to manage pain, or to create increased awareness. You can even use the control of your breath to focus power (martial artists do this as they’re preparing to break a board with their fist).
Controlling your breathing won’t necessarily erase your fear or eliminate your pain. And in terms of anger, it probably won’t make the obnoxious jerk standing in front of you suddenly disappear, but controlling your anger could keep you out of jail. You see, there are all sorts of good reasons to control yourself. Staying out of jail is just one of them and controlling your breathing will help you to do it. (You’re welcome. No extra charge. I’d rather share advice with you then pay your bail.)
You can control yourself. Controlling your breathing will help.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 