Joy Comes With the Morning

“Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭30:4-5 NLT

God is long suffering and merciful, yet He is also just. The word "just" is defined as righteous, honest, and true. He renders impartial judgment! Yes, God has anger. Now, before you jump to the wrong conclusion, stop for a moment and recognize that His anger is based on His being "just". Therefore, His anger is righteous indignation toward evil. Only God has absolute righteous anger. Anger isn't a sin to us either, unless we act upon it in our sinful nature. Anger is an innate response of emotion. How we act on our anger is based on the condition of our spirit. If we are conducting our self in the natural, fallen, sinful state of our depravity, we will allow anger to drive us into sinful action. However, if we live under the control of the Holy Spirit (God), we will not be controlled by the wicked passions of our sinful nature. Listen to Galatians 5: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:16-17‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, OUTBURSTS OF ANGER, (all capitals added), selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Listen to how the NASB says this:  “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:26-27‬ ‭NASB‬‬ The KJV says it like this:  “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:26-27‬ ‭KJV‬‬ Anger isn't the sin. The sin is found when we allow the devil to use our anger to prod us into sinful actions.  God has no sin!!! He cannot sin!!! Therefore, His anger is wholly "just"! God's wrath is utterly righteous! The good news in today's scripture is that His anger doesn't abide. His anger is much shorter than His long suffering and mercy. AREN'T YOU GLAD?? I sure am!! Praise Him child of God! Praise Him! God's favor far out weighs His anger. If This weren't true, we'd all be destroyed! Surely you can recognize how His favor has kept you and delivered you. Like David, take time today to praise Him for this very fact!  Weeping from the the adversity of circumstances may come to visit, but don't let it pack its bags and move in. Let God's joy return to your life today!