Anger Doesn’t Have to Win

Welcome Back to GBFC's Daily Devotionals. A new season to encourage one another in life's journey! Take a moment and read God's Word and today's Devotional by today's writer, Sis. Pat Towns!  Be Encouraged!

Anger is an emotion that comes on like a flood after a dam has broken. When the levees of your heart break those feelings bring about thoughts that can overwhelm and in a split moment your testimony can be destroyed. Anger is a strong emotion that can cause a person to make poor and/or rash decisions, often using their tongue as a weapon. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you is childhood’s biggest lie.

When anger sets in, negative thoughts can corrupt the mind. Luke 6:45 says, "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." You cannot fake what’s in your heart. During times of anger your true self will show.  As you grow in Christ you find that you may sin less, but you are not sinless. Moreover, you may find that you sin less in word and deed but not necessarily in thought.

Anger gives Satan a foothold, an opportunity to tempt you. Many times, we want to blame Satan for our behavior, our slips, but if we are honest, we can admit that the devil tempts but doesn’t force. Failure to seek the Lord immediately in times of distress can open the door for Satan to use you. Remember, Satan "walks around like a roaring lion seeking who he can devour." (1 Peter 5:8 ) In that same passage of scripture we are told to be "sober-minded and vigilant." We should always be on high alert because feelings are sneaky.

When a person offends you, the lion that has been pacing back and forth strikes and when he does, we react. That knee jerk reaction can be deadly. Before you know it, you have lashed out and destroyed your testimony. When angry, you aren’t thinking about edifying or "speaking in psalms and hymns" (Ephesians 5:19). Instead, you may think about some other songs that show that Christian doesn’t mean chump. The lion is roaring.

When life hits you with negative feelings and thoughts, pray immediately. Ask the Lord to take charge of your thoughts, to order your steps, to bridle your tongue. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21) so it must be controlled. But who can control the tongue (James 3:8)? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."  (Matthew 12:34 ). The heart can’t be trusted it is "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). Only the Lord can control the tongue and He knows our heart.

When anger embraces you like a vice grip, pray immediately asking the Lord to help you. Remember that feelings aren’t facts – feelings change, facts do not. Consider the facts in your situation, lean on the Lord, remember that the Bible tells us to be "slow to anger" (James 1:19 ), that you can "be angry but don’t sin." (Ephesians 4:26 ) The Bible even says we should not vent in anger (Proverbs 29:11), what!! So, when you feel the urge to cuss that person out, take a deep breath and pray because you cannot take back words spoken, even with apologies.

PRAYER: Dear Lord help us to control ourselves when we become angry. Your Word directs us to not be impulsive, but instead be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Remind us that although anger is not a sin it can lead to sin. Teach us how to be angry and not sin. Help us, Lord, to be aware of our thoughts so they cannot gain traction in our mind and become behaviors. Lord, help us to use Your Word that we have hidden in our hearts to overpower any deceitful or wicked thoughts. Then Lord, please help us to forgive as we have been forgiven. Help us to not hold on to anger and hold grudges – to not let the sun set on our wrath. Lord, thank You for directing us to cast our cares on You, even anger. Thank You for the saving power of Christ, without His Love, we would be lost. In Jesus name, Amen.
By Sis. Pat Towns