“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 4:26-27
Anger can be a warning to us that something is really wrong in our heart. Like a warning light on the dashboard of our car, it means to stop and check inside the engine to see what is going on.
Often times our pride has been wounded. Good! When we exalt self above others - our pride needs to be more than wounded; it needs to DIE fully at the foot of the cross.
It may take some time to get down to the real problem. The problem may be deep-seated issues of embitterment, receiving the anger of others, a sense of unfairness, a wrong someone has committed toward you, or any number of other challenges. Ask God to reveal the source of your anger. Once we are able to identify the root cause, only then is it that it can be (and must) be dealt with as God would have us do. Give it to HIM! Our renewed way of thinking must examine that issue in the Light of His Truth. Doing so doesn't mean it will immediately go away,
but that we learn how to look at the issue in God's Light.
but that we learn how to look at the issue in God's Light.
It is important to not let anger go unchecked. Unchecked anger is like a scheduling a "playdate" with the devil and then offering a sleepover too - he WILL grab a foothold. It can turn into bitterness, rage, brawling, slander and every form of malice. If any of these would characterize how you feel or behave toward another, the devil has a foothold in your life. This grieves the Holy Spirit. He is not comfortable dwelling in you when you allow this behavior to remain.
You are not exemplifying the life of Christ, but instead the spirit that of the world.
God's solution is to get rid of it. It is the simple and obvious answer, but we can only carry that out by surrendering to the Love of Christ. Remember - He forgave your worst offenses - and that was worse than the challenge that created the anger. be embraced by His Love and Grace and know that He wants to express that same Grace in and through you.
Now to be clear - it doesn't mean that you have to trust or enable that person to harm you or others again, but it does mean your attitude of bitterness must GO. This change is nothing short of a miracle. God will do it IN you and FOR you if you are willing. The Greek verb tense implies this is done at a point in time and remains done. Get rid of it! Don't go on grieving the Spirit. He will help you.
Remember - God stands ready with outstretched arms to forgive you, remove the anger and replace it with His Immeasurable Love. Check you dash lights ladies and get ready to take a look inside...
In His Love,
