Photo by David Knox
By Mike Chaffin
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
This year’s OCF devotional series is about vices, virtues, and emotions. Some call it the ‘human condition.’ Vices and negative emotions tend to trip us up in our journey with Christ. Twenty-six vices and negative emotions will be compared to their Christlike counterparts that overcome these vices and emotional baggage. This week we look at the negative side of anger.
The church lists anger as one of the seven deadly sins. When anger turns to wrath, or uncontrolled rage, it takes control of our better senses. It leads us to where we don’t want to go and sometimes hurts those we never intended to harm.
Anger leads us to say things we don’t mean and proclaim things we might not even really believe. As Ambrose Bierce so eloquently put it,
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
Situations can trigger our anger. Think about what triggers your anger and pray for help in this area. For me, stupidity triggers my anger. For others it might be impatience, disagreement, or rebellion. When we pray for Jesus to help us in this area, to help us see the trigger and disarm it before it causes us to explode, we can then control our temper. Anger that leads to no good is not a good witness. James wrote,
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20
The psalmist wrote,
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. Psalm 37:8
Paul, in his letters, condemns anger that is let out of control. He adds it to a litany of bad habits and traits of someone who gets too angry.
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Colossians 3:8
Not only do we hurt our relationships when we get angry, but we damage our witness for Christ. The good news is God is sufficient in all our needs and will deliver us from anger if we ask Him.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:19
Prayer: Lord help me to live a Christ like life, free from rage, anger, and wrath. Help me to seek you in prayer before the fuse is lit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
NOTE: Not all anger is sinful. There is another form of anger, and this topic will be addressed in a future writing.
