Lesson 12 | Our coping mechanisms

Summary of key points

1. A coping mechanism is how we adapt to stress, either consciously or unconsciously driven by our desire for control and comfort. 
2. Coping mechanisms rely on our flesh, not on the Holy Spirit.
3. Coping mechanisms are formed in our subconscious minds overtime and become hardwired and instinctual. We need God’s help to overcome them so that we can follow God faithfully.
4. To start, we need to recognise our subconscious emotions that drive us to cope in our own sinful ways (with 50 examples). 
5. Strong emotions can even trigger physical sensations in our bodies (with examples).
6. To be free from our emotional triggers, we need to forgive those who have caused us emotional stress and learn to go to the Holy Spirit for wisdom, counsel, understanding, and comfort.
7. God’s children do not cope with life’s stressors, we learn to conquer them with His help.

Group reflection questions

1. What are some of your personal takeaways from this study and testimony?
   
2. What do you do when you’re stressed out? Or whenever you encounter issues or problems in life? What are your coping mechanisms?
   
3. How do you think these coping mechanisms have kept you from relying or leaning on God?
   
4. Out of the 50 emotions listed – how many of these do you experience? Can you ask the Holy Spirit to show you where these emotions first came from and what incidents led to them?
   
5. How do you feel after following the renunciation prayer in this study?
   

Transcript

Download the PDF of the transcript here: Love the Lord lesson 12 lesson notes

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