Reflections
Sunday, May 26th, 2013
“Is
It a Godly Anger?”
“When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath
(your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes
down.” Ephesians 4:26
Scripture Reading For This Week: Exodus 34:5-7;
Deuteronomy 6:15; Job 35; Psalm 103; Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 22:4;
Ephesians 4...
When one considers the
circumstances occurring in this world at this time, how can one not
be filled with anger? Yet,
is it a constructive anger; a godly anger, or anger that leads to bad
behavior, malice, and bitterness? It is very easy to cross the line
and sin in our anger, when we allow our emotions to rule and do not
take everything to the Father in prayer.
I declare and decree
that this week's Reflections
will be a continued source of encouragement for your heart, mind, and
soul. Should you be facing a situation that has caused anger to rise
up in you, I pray that you would go to the Father and allow Him to
lead you, so that you may not sin in your anger. Or, allow anger to
turn into bitterness and regrets. A spirit of anger can cripple
you. God has far more for you to do.
How many times have you
become so angry that your emotions got the better of you, acting upon
that anger, only to have profound regrets later? That's usually what
happens. We blow up, acting out of anger, and we end up feeling worse
than we did before. Anger can cause a vicious cycle if we are not
careful.
Anger breeds anger.
Angry people who do not check their anger, become bitter people and
spread their anger like a virus to the lives of others. The emotion
of anger can be contagious. All it takes is one angry person to come
into a room and change the atmosphere. If those there do not know how
to process or channel anger, they will find themselves becoming
angry, as well.
It is one thing to have
a godly anger; to be angry at the injustices and actions of another
that are causing hurt and pain to a person or people. To have a
righteous anger for things that are out of the will of God, and a
desire to see things as God has ordained. However, it a whole other
thing to be angry and filled with rage, that you have a difficult
time letting go, or releasing that anger; causing you to act out of
character or to bring harm to another, whether verbally or
physically. To be filled with such wrath that it sets the tone for
your day, and it inhibits your life from moving forward, allowing a
spirit of bitterness and contempt to settle in.
Have you ever
encountered a bitter person? I have. It was the most unpleasant
encounter. No doubt, that bitter person was filled with so much
anger, that they couldn't let it go. It caused them to close their
heart off to others; allowing the anger to settle in that they could
not forgive or move forward in life. The anger had consumed them so
much, that they pushed everyone that loved them away. Anger robbed
them of joy, happiness, peace and even love. It left them with a
spirit of bitterness, loneliness, and also a spirit of
self-righteousness. It was truly a sad thing to behold. Everyone else
was wrong, and they were right. And, they believed they had a right
to be angry because of what was done to them.
Yes. We have a right to
get angry. But we do not have the God-given right to stay angry, and
to allow that anger to bring sin into our lives. We do not have the
luxury of time to allow a spirit of anger to rob us of what God has
ordained for our lives, or to bring that spirit of anger into the
lives of others.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NASB) “Let
no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as
is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that
it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit
of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away
from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has
forgiven you.”
When we read the word
of God, it is quite clear the damage that comes from a spirit of
anger. The Father admonishes us to steer clear of a spirit of anger;
to not let it rule us or govern our lives that we miss out on the
blessings of God for our lives.
Anger unchecked and
allowed to fester grows into a monster that is hard to put back in
its bottle. It is like trying to place an adult back into the
womb—not going to happen! It can cause irreparable damage to not
only self, but those in the crossfire of that anger. Before one knows
it, actions have occurred for which there is no returning from.
Yes. We may get angry
at a situation. We may get angry at what someone has done to us or
those we love. However, we must not allow that anger to dictate who
we are and what we do. We must learn to give that anger to the Lord.
We must teach ourselves to respond, rather than react to the anger.
We must also learn how to release anger in a healthy way.
The emotion of anger
can be toxic physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can cripple us
if we do not know how to deal with it, or to let it go. And rest
assure, however we deal with anger, we teach our children to do the
same. Constantly reacting to anger and lashing out and exploding, we
pass on that same behavior to our children. And chances are they will
do the same—creating a behavior that can go on for generations to
come.
Proverbs 16:32 He
who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his
[own] spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 19:11
Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to
overlook a transgression or an offense.
Proverbs 22:24
Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful
man do not associate...
Do not allow a spirit
of anger to rob you of the blessings of God. Do not allow anger to
turn into bitterness and contempt, making your life full of regrets
and loneliness. In your anger, take it to God. Allow Him to direct
your paths and to your knees in prayer. Don't sin in your anger,
making things worse. Give it to God and allow Him to free you, and to
bring a spirit of peace and calm.
I decree that the
spirit of peace and of prosperity has found permanent rest in your
life: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and
financially. God has granted you a spirit of peace to transcend all
anger. Respond to the wisdom of God, rather than react to the emotion
of anger. Walk in the peace and comfort of God, knowing that whatever
comes your way, you can get through it with God on your side. You are
Blessed. Now go...and Be a Blessing!
©2013. Ruthe
McDonald. All Rights Reserved.
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