Righteous Anger

Righteous Anger

RIGHTEOUS ANGER

Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Ephesians 4:26 NKJV

How do you respond when you feel angry? Do you “blow up” and lose control, or are you able to maintain a calm and patient demeanor in provoking situations?

Sadly, many believers fail to manage their resentment in a positive fashion. But there are steps you can take to avoid the devastating consequences.

First of all, admit that you have an anger problem. You may be irritated with yourself, someone else, or even God. But you’ll never overcome this negative emotion until you own up to its presence in your life.

Next, identify the source of your hard feelings. Ask yourself, Why am I reacting like this? With whom am I upset? What’s causing me to behave this way? Once you’ve figured out where your annoyance comes from, deal with it quickly—when bitterness is allowed to build up, we become prime targets for the Enemy. Paul’s advice is wise: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).

Finally, we need to forgive whoever is the source of our hurt. When we feel injured, that may seem too difficult, but it is the most important aspect of dealing with anger. How can we fail to pardon someone else when our heavenly Father forgave us by offering His Son as a sacrifice?

Anger doesn’t have to control your life. If you’re a believer, the Holy Spirit empowers you to walk in a Christlike manner. As you prepare for the week ahead, ask the Lord to pinpoint your areas of unresolved hostility. Trust Him to guide as you seek to take control of this emotion.

Prayer: Lord, empower me to take control of my emotion.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

27 nor give place to the devil.

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

NKJV

Righteous Anger