Controlling Anger

Controlling Anger

"In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
Ephesians 4:26

Your ability to handle anger is an important character trait in your life. The statistics state that as many as 50% of people that are in Christian counseling programs have problems dealing with anger. Anger can destroy communications with your family, tear apart relationships, and destroy any hope of having peace and joy in your life. Most people try to justify their anger by blaming others instead of accepting responsibility for it. The Bible gives us much wisdom about how to handle anger in our lives, and the scripture mentioned above is just one of many. Anger turns to sin when it is selfishly motivated, or it is allowed to linger in our thoughts and minds. Forgiveness is the answer to controlling anger, as many times anger results because we have been wronged by someone, and we want revenge and to retaliate against them. Forgiveness, however, takes away these thoughts as once we can forgive someone who has hurt or harmed us, we are set free from these harmful thoughts. When we use forgiveness as our weapon against anger, and can pray for the people, not hold a grudge, or allow anger to fester, and keep feelings of anger inside us, the battle is easily won in controlling anger. Unfortunately so many people cannot get past hurts out of their minds, and really forgive. Things that happened in the past should never be cause to keep reminding ourselves about past hurts or things done against us. These should be reminders to us to think about forgiveness, and to replace these hurts with love for the people who may have harmed us. When you can convert love for anger, you are where God wants you.
My Daily Devotional Volume Six
April 24
Robert William Brock, Jr.