Dealing With Mood Swings

Dealing With Mood Swings

Don't you just wish that you can be in a good mood all the time? I do, and I'm sure you do too. Yet, we are still in this flesh that has emotions that go crazy sometimes. And then we have our monthly period and other hormonal changes that happen inside our bodies. Add to these the day-to-day pressures that we have to deal with. There are days when you can handle it better and days when you just feel like screaming.
Though we have all the reasons to justify our mood swings, I still wouldn't want to use anything as an excuse. I don't want to be going through something and say, "Oh, I'm just having my period so just bear with me". I've tried that and it made me feel worse. It just catered to my spoiled flesh and it didn't do anything glorifying for Jesus. Honestly, it just detached me from Him and the people I love.
I love what Jesus said in John 16:33, most especially the Amplified version.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
This Scripture gives us the assurance that we can have perfect peace and confidence in Jesus. Really, where do our bad moods come from??? It comes from not having peace about something. When we are at peace, we feel good! Through Jesus we can have the confidence that we can be delivered from our roller coaster ride of emotions. But wait! There is another part to this Scripture. Jesus is saying that "in this world", which means "while we are still alive here on earth", we will have trials, tribulations, distress, and frustration. Being delivered from our mood swings does not mean that we won't experience frustration or whatever is causing this crazy emotional pendulum. It means that we can have "peace" in the midst of whatever we are going through. It means that we can have our periods or our hormonal changes without having to suffer from the effects of mood swings that go with it. "How?", you may ask. Again, Jesus gives us the answer from the same Scripture... Be of good cheer. I have deprived the world of its power to harm you and I have conquered it for you. Let me translate this in relation to our mood swings, ok? Be of good cheer. I have deprived these hormonal changes of its power to cause your mood swings. Whoa!
It is through Jesus... through total surrender to Him... through obedience of His Word... through remaining in His presence, that we can make this Scripture a reality in our lives. Jesus said it, and so it is true. However, for it to manifest in our lives, we have to act upon it. James 2:26 says... Faith apart from (its) works of obedience is also dead.
Let me now proceed with the "works" part. What should we do, on our part, to exercise faith in overcoming our mood swings?
Have a thankful attitude at all times.
Philippians 4:4, 6-7 says... Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice! Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Mood swings happen in the soulish realm - the heart and mind. This is where all the chaos happen. Having a thankful attitude, regardless of what we are going through, brings about the peace of God that guards our heart and mind.
Stay in God's presence.
We can remain in God's presence whatever we are doing. All we have to do is keep our gaze upon Him. I can be working and still remain in His presence by talking to Him quietly in my mind and telling Him that everything I am doing is for His glory. I can be talking to my husband and in my mind I am thanking God for Him.
When I am having a "not so good day" I normally tell Jesus, "I don't feel good but that doesn't matter. You are the same God yesterday, today, and forever". Then I start worshiping and praising Him even more. Honestly, when I am having some crazy emotions, I block it off by speaking in tongues or singing for the Lord. A little "giving in" to my thoughts and feelings can send me to that roller coaster ride.
Repent and be cleansed everyday.
Mood swings can trigger all other hidden resentments, anger, and hurt, making it spin out of control. If there is nothing hidden there, then there is nothing to be triggered, right? I am realizing this now more than ever. When I am not feeling so good, I could almost hear a tape recorder being played in my mind of what my husband said to me a week ago, or even a month ago, or even a year ago, that really hurt me. I have made that stupid mistake of entertaining those voices several times only for me to end up feeling worse over something that is already a thing of the past. But why were those voices there in the first place? Well, it's pretty obvious that I haven't released them to Jesus.
Now I am very careful. I've learned from my experience the hard way. If I get hurt over something, I run to Jesus and release it to Him. I immediately repent of anything I've thought of, entertained, or allowed to sink in my heart that is not of Him. Just the other day my husband said something to me that offended me. I got impatient with him and had these angry thoughts in my mind. And each time that happens, I feel so detached from him. Then I heard God's voice saying, "you better release that to me or you will be entertaining it again". Believe me, my flesh wanted to cling to what I was feeling but I took that step and released it to God. Then I repented and asked Him to cleanse me of whatever hurt or anger I was still feeling. Then I moved forward and acted as if nothing happened. Oh it is not easy but I am realizing how easier it is becoming because I am getting used to it. It also brings about so much peace, which is what we are all seeking for.
Submit your thoughts to Christ.
This is closely related to what I've just said. We are to release our thoughts to Christ, otherwise these thoughts will sink deep into our hearts and we will end up carrying all these negative feelings that can grow very big inside of us. How do we submit our thoughts to Christ?
[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 2Cor.10:5
Oh I love this verse! There are two parts here that teach us how to submit our thoughts to Christ. First, we are to refute, which means disprove or counter. I want to use the word "counter" more because this means we are not just going to disprove it but to present the truth as against the lie. So, we are to counter arguments, reasonings, and theories that are against the Word of God. Each time you are bombarded with thoughts that make you feel negative about someone or something, go to the Word and find a Scripture to counter that. Focus on that Scripture.
The second part is to lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ. I believe that "obedience of Christ" here also means "obedience to Christ". When we follow Jesus' obedience, then we are obeying Him. This clearly explains that after we disprove all the wrong thoughts that the enemy is throwing in our brain through the Word of God, we now have to take that negative thought captive by the Word. The Word of God takes precedence and control over any negative thought. There should be no "ifs" and "buts" anymore. The Word of God stands alone. This is what "obedience" is all about. We follow and submit to nothing else but the Word of God. This just shows that I can't use my PMS as an excuse anymore because it is not what the Word of God says.
Be persistent.
Our emotions are one of our biggest stumbling blocks. Though God created it for good, the enemy has used it to weigh us down. Emotions are a part of us... our human nature... our flesh, which is why it is not easy taming it or taking control of it. It takes seriousness on our part and constantly doing it over and over again, until it becomes second nature. Believe me, it becomes easier as you obey.
The next time you are having mood swings, go back to this article and meditate on the Scriptures that are here. Better yet, meditate on it now so you will be prepared.
Lisa Maki is the founder of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women whose mission is to is to provide a place where women can learn to manage their emotions, experience healing, receive love and acceptance, be free to be who God made them to be, and be the best they can be in their homes, schools, professions, relationships, and calling, through sharing of insights and experiences, counseling, prayer, and devotionals, thereby learning from and supporting each other. For more of Lisa's articles, visit http://godzgurlz.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_U_Maki  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6710758