I woke up one morning with a weird word on my mind: “barometer.”
Although I’ve heard the word in weather reports, I didn’t know what it meant. I felt the Spirit compelling me to look up the meaning.
What I learned can be a great help to those who experience emotional storms often – overwhelmed with depression, anger, anxiety, or any other negative emotion.
A barometer measures pressure in the atmosphere.
When the atmospheric pressure is high in your area, that means fair weather because the atmosphere can resist stormy weather patterns that are trying to come into your area.
But when the atmospheric pressure is low, that means storms can come in to your area because storms take the path of least resistance.
Keeping Emotional Storms Out
The Spirit revealed this truth to me: The only way to overcome emotional storms is to keep the atmospheric pressure inside of yourself high by being full of the Spirit.
That way, when pressures are high in your external circumstances, you will be able to overcome them because they can’t get inside you.
After all, you are already filled!
You are a new creation in Christ and Jesus lives out His life through you through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Here is a picture of your new character, found in Colossians 3:12-17:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Feelings: Your Internal Barometer
From now on, think of your feelings as a barometer.
When you are full of the Spirit, you are full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Galatians 5:22-23 describes this Spiritual fruit, which Jesus said glorifies God.
But when you are spiritually low, you are habitually worried, troubled, fearful, doubtful, depressed, jealous, prone to anger, selfish, envious, and lack self control.
Galatians 5:19-21 warns us against these works of the flesh because those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!
When you feel this way, check your body. When you experience negative emotions, you will feel tension in your body. The enemy will often use this tension to move you to practicing addictive habits.
It’s like a puppet on a string! So when you feel tense, consciously relax your body to release that tension.
The more relaxed you are, the harder you make it for the enemy to pull on you!
Retreating to the Father, praying, meditating on His word, and speaking it to yourself throughout the day keeps the spiritual pressure inside yourself high so that you can resist emotional storms.
Spiritual disciplines also inspire you to praise and worship Him.
When praise and worship fills your heart, then you will know that your Spiritual atmospheric pressure is high enough to overcome any storms that come your way.
I hope you start practicing this principle every day. As you stay filled with the Spirit and are led by the Spirit, you will live a victorious life.
You will also draw others to Jesus because they will see the difference in you and want the peace that you have!
Kimberly Taylor
Author of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. Are you struggling with the challenges of emotional eating? Many people with eating issues know what to do but have a hard time doing it. That is where you need a community that supports each other!
In the Take Back Your Temple program, you will get all the support you need to overcome the Spiritual and emotional battles of weight loss, connected in our Overcomers community.
Click here to confirm the Take Back Your Temple program is right for you.
Thank you Jesus, for this encouraging message. I’ve been struggling with giant waves of grief lately, and my coping method has been storm eating. I believe that this is the enemy taking hold of me, in my tender moments, doing everything it can to keep me away from my Father. I know this is not God’s will for me, and I’m ready to change, to fill my cup up again with God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen, Vickie! May the Lord comfort you with His love and heal your broken heart according to His promise ❤
This is a good Word for me. Thank you so much!!!!
You are welcome, Gladys – I give God all the praise!
Thank you very much, I am encouraged n have learn a lot, this is very helpful to me
I am glad to hear that, Catherine – may the Lord bless you!
That was just what I needed to read! I’m going to read it again and again. Such good advice. Thank you so much!
You are welcome, Terri – God is good!
Again ty and want to say this yesterday I work and when i got home I was tired and my husband and daughter sent me to get them something to eat. I can say I pass the test, I went to MacDonald and I didn’t want anything I ate the meal that was plan. I feel great I didn’t cheat nor did I desire it. Thank you Jesus I did it.!!!
Thank you Lord – I praising God with you, Renee!
This is fantastic. I love the “puppet on a string” comment — great visual encouragement to refuse to be pulled tight with tension and negative emotions. To relax into the “Calgon” water of the Word and the oil of the Spirit!
/sg
Amen, Shana – the Lord promises rest for His people so may we be diligent to enter in to that rest!
When I submit to God he has to flee.
Awesome revelation. The enemy comes in where there is least resistance.
Yes, Sophia – that is why the word tells us to submit to God and resist the enemy. He must flee!
Thanks for this, Kim! I have not been the best version of myself the last couple days. My eating has been off. Every bone in my body hurts, probably from a combination of poor eating and being cranky. This teaching is pointing me in the right direction to get out of this cycle … right back to God! Thank you … you’re always inspirational to me. ❤️
Glad to hear that, Mary – as long as you cling to the Rock during emotional storms, you won’t be shaken. Stay blessed, Sister!
Thank you Kim, This is a very good visual ‘parable’ to describe a difficult spiritual issue. And I couldn’t agree more. When I am walking filled with the Spirit, nothing can get in, and I worship with joy. It helps having brothers and sisters to walk with as well. But, oh my, when I am not filled, and the enemy of our souls takes that opportunity to kick us when we are down, that hurts. He is NOT a gentleman. But God…”The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe!” Ps 18:10. 🙂
Amen, Debra! This is a matter of life and death – non-negotiable when it comes to living a victorious Christian life. May we all purpose in our hearts to live in victory every day.
I was literally just going through an emotional storm.You have helped me so much to overcome it!
I appreciate the confirmation, Joyann – God has a way of delivering the right words at the right time.
Thank u this is wonderful as are all your posts. I love how JESUS deals with u on certain words. My husband is a minister and this happens with him so much. Can u please give me some insight on a fairly new product called Truvision??
Awesome insight, thanks for sharing Godly strategies.
I need more of Jesus! I need more of all of God! I’ve become impatient and selfish affecting more than my waistline but my heart attitudes! Thank you for your email. I hopped from the other article. My emotional storms are not healthy and my barometer isn’t in good stead. I think I’m going to get rid of the other programs and stick where the Word is set forth in crucifying the deathly flesh! I almost always find your articles very stirring and insightful. In fact, it becomes overwhelming because there is so much truth to be had and I can’t soak it all up fast enough! I must be hard as a rock. I need this Word to go deep and stay there! It’s true. Lord, I need you still! Thank you, Kimberly! Have a blessed day!
I struggle with this often to the point where I simply want to give up and just say forget it but If I do this then i am giving the enemy what he wants I often miss my ex fiance but i have to realize he made the choice to leave and although I will never understand I want to believe that this is for my Good i have tried so many times to gain a understanding but this season in my lfe I simply am sad.
This is a great share! The “barometer” gave me a greater insight of how to let rely on the Holy Spirit when I’m overwhelmed in my emotions. Thanks for sharing this.
I appreciate this post and the Spirit’s revelation to you.
Kimberly, this is great! Such perfect timing for me! You have touched me so much and I praise Jesus for it! Just recently, a very emotional situation happened and instead of acting quickly and irrationally, I turned to the Word. I knew, “if God is for me, who can be against.” So instead of me responding in the world, I responded in the Word.
I am a newby to TBYT program, and I am still reading and trying to find my way around, but I love that much of the TBYT and your wonderful blogs, are helping in all areas of my life…not just the overeating part, but all for my temple isn’t just my stomach.
Thank you Father God for leading me to Kimberly and her TBYT program!
That touches me so much, Teresa. God is great and greatly to be praised for the changes He is working in your life!
Good morning Kim,
As I woke this morning the choir The Sweetest Name I Know was on my mind .
This is my second week w/ your 90 day coaching on line
Thank u sooo much for being here.
Maybe I’ll be able to help others w/ direction . Most around here just say “Oooo everybody has thoes feeling or thoughts. We All need some one to be our sounding board” but don’t give any direction how to get out of my rut & it comes every 6 wks or so, for 2 wks then it’t over , just like turning off a light bulb, it’s gone. This has gone on for 50 years or more. I’m praising our Lord & Saviour for U & your ministery. Keep up the good work.
I have sent one of my friends your FB devotion s specilly when I know it applys . Want to visit her soon to help her sign up on her own, she says she not very good on the computer. I have to have my husband help me some , I know enough to get in trouble sometimes. Well Kin thanks again, may God keep on blessing U & your staff. Gail hugs to u all
I think emotions really tie into the weight situation, as you say. I know in my own case when I fall off the proverbial wagon it’s mainly because of something emotional in my life that I didn’t handle right. Thanks for the nice post on how to overcome this. Julian