Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 29:11; Ephesians 4:26-31; James 1:19-20; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 16:32

Please comment below with your conversation with God and/or insights from today’s Scriptures.

You can answer the following:

1. What are the Scriptures telling you about anger?

2. Can you recall a time when you were angry? What did you do? What did you say? How did you feel? What was the result?

3. What are the things that can make you angry? How have you changed your approach to it over time, if you have?

4. What is your prayer to God regarding anger?

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Internal Combustion | Lemuel Ayudtud

Let’s consider the godly ways to respond to the emotion of anger:

1. Keep your mouth shut until after the heat of anger dissipate. Wisdom is known also by when to say something and not just what or how to say something.

2. Be conscious of the devil’s work, don’t give room for him such as going tit for tat with the person or people you’re angry with; or speaking emotionally with cursing and demanding or provoking conversation—we should always use our words to build up and not tear down; these among other things.

3. Concern yourself with what God delights in rather than what you’re currently feeling. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God by doing or acting or speaking in ways that will not glorify God—protect your thoughts above all.

4. Make sure not to turn your anger into a lifestyle. Protect yourself from allowing anger to turn into bitterness, wrath (a desire to see someone hurt), being constantly argumentative spurred on by a mindset of “I’m going to make their life a living hell”. All of these do not glorify God and will deteriorate your mind and health.

5. Be slow to anger. Stay away from being a “hot-head”. Be quick to forgive over being quick to anger. And if someone offends you over and over again, pray that the Lord will give you wisdom to find a way out.

Anger is defined by the Strong’s Concordance as provocation, frustration, sore, sorrow, wrath. (See the full definition here.) If we consider anger, it’s definitely all of that mashed up into a moment or a time.

The Bible tells us that anger is a staple in man. People get angry. It’s normal so we find that it’s not the emotion, it’s the reaction we have when angry that God wants us to be watchful for. The Scripture reads to be angry but not to sin. (Eph 4:26)

The Word of God also shows us that a man easily angered is spiritually weak and needs maturity and spiritual growth. Though it is common, the child of God expresses the leading of the Holy Spirit to love and patience over the emotional pull of anger.

Live long enough and people will provoke and act in ways that will irritate and frustrate you. Your reaction to it will not only reflect what God is doing or has done in your life, it will also save you from loss of time and energy. Ultimately, we can’t help but get angry at times, but if we let God lead our lives, we don’t have to succumb to the avalanche of emotion and hurt that anger can bring. Festering anger hurts us more than anyone we’re angry with; it’s an internal combustion that leads to our own deterioration and misery.

Lord, help me to always delight in you especially in those times of anger. Help me to take Your lead when I start to get angry and hurt. Father, work in me the grace to be forgiving rather than hurting and desiring to hurt others. Teach me to take my concerns and submit them to You. Help me to be in worship of You. Please help me to stay away from the path of temptation; help me to know my boundaries and deepen my resolve and patience. In Your Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.