Emotional Intelligence is a marker of spiritual transformation and greater sanctification in the life of the Replanter. In order for us to properly apply emotional intelligence to our lives, ministries, and pastoral leadership, we first must understand how transformation and sanctification happen in the life of the believer.
The process of transformation begins with the knowledge of scripture and the sanctifying power of God’s word. As the believer continually feeds on and makes the intake of scripture a routine spiritual discipline, the mind and the way we think begin to change. As we read from the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The knowledge of God’s word via the work of the Holy Spirit then begins a transformational work in the heart of the believer. As this transformation begins to take place, by God’s grace, the actions and behavior of the believer now follows suit. True transformation affects each of the following three aspects of the believer: the head, the heart, and the hands. See how each of these is involved in the diagram above. Additionally, false transformation manifests itself when any one of these elements is not present in the way of Legalism, Liberalism or Passivism.
#1 Stop listening and Start talking. Pastor Paul Tripp once said, “No one is more influential in your life that you are because no one talks to you more than you do”. Many times our negative and destructive emotions are fueled by what we hear from the “voices in our own minds”. We need to stop listening to these lies and begin preaching to ourselves the truth of God’s word. There is a scriptural principal involved in this process, which instructs us to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ. This important strategy will now engage our rational brain to weigh in our thoughts and actions. Those who fail to do this will see behavior that is motivated by pure emotion and very little rational thought. The outcome in this case is rarely positive for the replanter, or those he is trying to lead and shepherd.
#2 Fuel your mind for transformation: Mediate on and memorize these verses:
A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
Proverbs 25:28
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
Published December 17, 2015
