Anger

Proverbs 15:1 says  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Ephesians 4:31 says to let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. Colossians 3:21 says Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Proverbs 16:32 says He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Anger is a normal human emotion, and it is one we all experience from time to time. God is well aware of this, and understands it. Becoming angry is never pleasant, but at the same time it is not the emotion itself that is the problem. It is how we choose to react to a situation when we are angry that is the issue.

Having a "short fuse" as some say is a trait that if possessed, needs your immediate attention. I have heard some people proclaim this about themselves in a bragging manner, when it is certainly nothing to be proud of.  If you are a person who is quick to become angry, then begin working on rectifying that today. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 6:32 that a person who is slow to become angry is better than a mighty man, and that a person who is able to control him or herself than one who could take a city. This comparision let's us know how great God feels the ability to practice self-control is.

I have seen full grown adults lose their temper, and throw a fit because things were not going their way, and let me tell you it looks ridiculous. We never hear about that, however, we only hear stories where children have become angry, and lost their tempers. What are we going to do about the adults?

Fathers are instructed in Colossians 3:21 not to make their children angry by provoking them because it discourages the child. I have been out in public, and witnessed parents going on and on at a child, only to become further upset when the child becomes angry. Those same individuals would become livid, if someone provoked them in the same manner. There are ways to handles situations  without invoking anger, and discouragement in the child. It is so important to remain calm yourself, and think about the words you choose to speak when handling issues with anyone including a child. In controlling your temper with them as you handle whatever the problem might be, you are not just teaching one lesson in your correction, but two. The first lesson you are teaching is in your handling of the problem, and the second one is in self-control. We are all roll models for the children in our lives, and how we behave has a tremendous impact on their lives.

When we fail to control our emotions in any area, not only does the person we lose it with suffer the consequences, but we do as well. It is exhausting, embarassing, and troubling to our spirit, when we lose self-control. Most importantly it is displeasing to God.

We can only control ourselves, and it is vital that we do so. If you know you need work in this area, then start working on it right away. First and foremost, go to God in prayer, and ask  him to help you with self-control. Practice taking a few minutes to calm down before you react to a situation that has made you angry. Use kind words in an attempt to defuse a conversation that is leading to anger, the next time someone becomes angry with you. If all else fails and the only way you can maintain self-control is to go into another room for a moment, then by all means do it. Anger left unchecked is a very ugly emotion. It is unhealthy, it benefits no one, and it wreaks havoc on all who are subjected to it. Strive to be a person who is mightier than he who can take a city.

If you have a prayer request, simply leave me a message, and I will be more than happy to pray for you. May God bless you!