Sisters in Faith
Stay In Control
By Tia McCollors
A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. – Proverbs 29:11
No one knows for sure what emotion led Queen Vashti to refuse her husband’s summons to appear before him at the King’s feast. He’d said he wanted her to wear her crown and to display her beauty for all of the princes, servants and nobles who were dining with him. Perhaps Queen Vashti felt ashamed of his request. The Bible records that King Ahasuerus was drunk with wine. Or maybe she was angry that he wanted her to leave her own feast in order to flaunt herself. Whatever the case, Queen Vashti’s decision costs her the royal position and quite possibly her integrity.
Emotions can sometimes lead to rash decisions. Instead of letting our emotions rule our lives, we should rule over our emotions.
Practical Application: Take a breather and count to ten. Without emotions, our world would be a gray and predictable place to live with people who all felt and acted the same. Emotions may guide us, but they shouldn’t rule us.
Before responding to a situation, ask yourself a few key questions. Can I approach this situation in a different way? If necessary, how can I defuse this situation? What will be the consequences of my actions? Am I willing to live with those consequences, no matter the costs?
Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my emotions under control! I want to make decisions that will bring honor and won’t compromise my integrity or the positions you’ve placed me in. Show me how to respond first in love when my emotions try to speak for me.
Tia McCollors is a wife and mother who loves to encourage women to wear their faith like a designer label. Information about her inspirational novels and devotions can be found at www.tiamccollors.com.