ANGER

Anger in our society is rampant.  Most of us have a hard time dealing with anger.  Some of us have a history of rage.  Others of us learned early in life to smother our feelings to help control anger.  Anger will harm our relationships whether we explode or clam up, hold a grudge, or simply let bitterness take root in us and fill us with self-pity. 

The Bible has much to say about an out of control angry person.  Not much of it is good. 

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.  (Ecclesiastes 7:9, NIV, Proverbs 14:29 GNB)

For most of us the question is not “Do I get angry?”  We know we do.  Specific questions we need to ask ourselves about anger include: “What’s the real root of my anger?”  “Do I want to get rid of anger?”  “What am I willing to do to be free from destructive anger?”

Anger can only be dealt with by receiving love and forgiveness from God and in turn choosing to love and forgive others.  The foundation for anger management is having an active loving relationship with God and choosing to surrender all our interactions with others to His wisdom and guidance.  Anything less will result in fear or frustration, and we will find ourselves back in the anger cycle again.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Help me to identify and deal with the root of my anger.  You know the events of my life where I felt helpless and just stuffed all that I was feeling.  Help me to grieve, in a healthy way, all the events that contributed to my dysfunctional way of thinking and behaving.  I choose to let go of my way of handling troublesome situations with anger.  I desire to live with self-control by the power of Your Holy Spirit.  In the same way You have forgiven and graced me, help me to forgive and grace others. Amen