Anger Management

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When someone says things that slander our character or when something happens that upsets us, we are naturally motivated to anger. Anger is a part of our carnal, sinful existence. As long as we are in these mortal bodies and living in this wicked world, we will have to deal with the issue of anger. We cannot escape its reality. We must learn how to deal with our anger in a biblical, godly way. Offenses will,  inevitably, come. Challenges of life will sorely try us. What we do with our anger is key. When someone, or something, provokes us to anger, we must pause for a moment, pray in that moment, and ask the Holy Spirit to take control of our feelings and actions. Many times, when we are angered, we spontaneously react without contemplation. We react impulsively without regard for what is righteous. In that moment of hurt or frustration we simply want to gratify our flesh. This is where we make a grave mistake. Listening to our flesh is the pathway of evil.  “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:5-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Now, let's consider the fact that anger is a response mechanism that can be harnessed for good or unleashed for evil. Being angry over an injustice is certainly natural and appropriate. Anger is a motivator. The problem is sin. What we do with that anger is the whole kit and caboodle.  “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Knowing how to submit our anger to the righteous leadership of the Holy Spirit is the heart of the matter. We will, without doubt, be angered in our lives by what people do or by things that happen circumstantially. It behoves us to learn how to deal with this. It is imperative. If we do not, we will develop a habit of unrighteous conduct that will produce certain disaster and, generational dysfunction. We must not allow anger to harbor in our hearts when we lie down at night to rest. We must learn to deal with it promptly. All the way back to Genesis 4, where Cain killed his brother Abel, we see what anger accomplished and the massive generational issues humanity has had to endure since. This is all because of the sin of our ancestors Adam and Eve. The only way to overcome this is through the power of Jesus Christ! By our submission to His Holy Spirit, we can break the chains of darkness by which evil tries to shackle us. Today, if you are feeling angry over something, or at someone, submit to Jesus and let him answer the door when the devil comes knocking. I guarantee you, upon the authority of His Holy Name, that Satan will tuck his tail and run.  “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬ However, if you decide to answer the door instead, trouble is on the way.  Stop today. Pray! Ask Jesus to take your anger and submit it to His righteousness! If you do, the outcome will be right and blessed.  “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
Prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, take control of my spirit today and help me walk in the Holy Spirit. I need you to take my anger and place it beneath Your righteous character. In Jesus name. Amen!!