Exodus 2:12, "After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand."

Proverbs 29:11, "Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back."

Think

What do many shrewd marketers know about you? They know that emotions influence you, so advertisers design their campaigns specifically to provoke feelings that will cause you to put aside reason and buy their product. Emotions are powerful because they don't just affect the nature of a decision, but the speed in which it is made.

Anger is one of many powerful emotions. It can lead to impatience that, too often, results in rash decision-making. This was true for Moses when he happened upon a fellow Hebrew being mistreated. Overcome with emotion, he made a bad call and took action. He murdered a man.

Emotions aren't bad, but they're not the prime source for making wise decisions. God designed our emotions to gauge, not guide; to report to, not dictate to us. We need to funnel our feelings through the Word of God. In the case of anger, the Bible tells us that fools quickly express anger, but the wise restrain it. Allow God's Word to guide your actions, and you'll become devotional, not emotional!

Act

What specific emotion has triggered you to make unwise decisions: anxiety, anger, loneliness, jealousy, sadness, shame, regret, stress? Discover what the Bible has to say about that emotion and how to manage it wisely.

Pray

Dear God, I don't want to be consumed or controlled by feelings. When I become overwrought with emotion, guide me to funnel the situation through the wisdom of Your Word. Teach me to tap into the restraint in me through the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.