| Taking out the trash is a chore that we do not look | | | | these negative emotions that arise from both |
| forward to. We do it on a regular basis to get rid of | | | | perceived wrongs and guilt which are never |
| the garbage and junk in our home. We take the | | | | confessed or expressed. These negative emotions |
| trash to the front curb or the rear alley way to be | | | | are garbage and junk that will move us in the |
| picked up and carried away - never to be thought of | | | | direction of back roads, which will bring us to a |
| again. | | | | destination of pain and hurt. |
| Most of us wouldn't even think of allowing a bunch of | | | | Isaiah 53:4 explains that, "...The chastisement for our |
| smelly garbage and junk to build up in their home. | | | | peace was upon Him (Christ)..." Chastisement is |
| However, many of us allow all sorts of garbage and | | | | defined as punishing somebody. Peace is defined as |
| junk to build up inside of us - and often times we | | | | the freedom from oppressive emotions. In other |
| never take this type of trash out at all. | | | | words Christ took punishment upon himself so that |
| The garbage and junk we allow to build up with in us | | | | we could have freedom from negative and |
| can be broken down into two negative emotional | | | | oppressive emotions like unchecked rage and |
| categories. The emotions we feel when we wrong | | | | unyielding remorse. God never meant for us to hold |
| someone and the emotions we feel when we are | | | | on such harsh emotions. |
| wronged. When we feel we are wronged, we may | | | | Jesus wants us to confess our hurts and wrongs. In |
| withdraw and/ or hide our rage away from everyone | | | | other words, Christ as our personal high priest wants |
| - even those close to us. Or, we may lash out in | | | | us to take the garbage out and leave it on the curb |
| unrestrained rage against those we perceived to | | | | for him to take away. Hebrews 4:14 says, "14 Seeing |
| have wronged us. Often times when we lash out in | | | | then that we have a great High Priest who has |
| this manner, we have allowed anger to rise above | | | | passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, |
| the need to look at a situation, objectively, from all | | | | let us hold fast our confession." In other words, we |
| view points. Whether we withdraw or lash out, we | | | | need to get the trash out of us by admitting what is |
| never reach the point where we feel that the wrong | | | | wrong in us and letting it go. We need to create a |
| done to us has been resolved to our satisfaction. | | | | Hebrews 4:16 mindset, where we "...come boldly to |
| When we wrong others, we still either withdraw and | | | | the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and |
| or hide our emotions of guilt from everyone - even | | | | find grace to help in time of need." We need to |
| those who are close to us and sometimes we | | | | accept the freely given mercy and grace by a loving |
| withdraw or hide from ourselves. Hereto we | | | | God who is firmly on his throne. Then release our |
| sometimes, lash out in a raging fury at those we | | | | anger or guilt by talking or praying with a Christian |
| perceive are making much to do about nothing, | | | | accountability partner, whom we have developed a |
| regarding something we did or failed to do. Again, | | | | relation with. We need to give mercy and grace to |
| whether we withdraw or lash out, we often never | | | | those who have wronged us. |
| reach the point where we feel we have satisfactorily | | | | Similarly, we also need to release our guilt by |
| resolved or dealt with our feelings of guilt. | | | | admitting it and praying with a Christian accountability |
| The reason our emotions, whether they arise from a | | | | partner you feel you can trust. Once again, we need |
| perceived wrong or from guilt, are never | | | | to freely receive mercy and grace into our lives. |
| satisfactorily resolved is that we do not do a very | | | | Whether it is a perceived wrong or personal guilt, we |
| good job of releasing wrongs or guilt. In other words, | | | | can use the experience we have gained, as a result, |
| we are not taking out our negative emotional trash | | | | for positive personal growth and development in our |
| of obstinate rage and persistent guilt like we should. | | | | lives. So take out the garbage that is inside of you. |
| It is important that you understand that our | | | | Leave the trash of wild anger and endless guilt on |
| emotions are simply pleasure or pain that we feel on | | | | the curb to be hauled away. Once you remove this |
| the inside, which moves us towards a certain | | | | trash from inside of you, you will find that you have |
| direction in life. We need to confess and release the | | | | more room for personal growth and development in |
| negative emotions that come from both perceived | | | | your life. What is your next step my friend? Are you |
| wrongs and guilt. Now why is this necessary? Well, | | | | ready to take out the trash (in your life) now? |