Anger, What Do You Do With Yours?

Anger is not a bad thing.  No, really I'm not joking here.  Anger is a natural occurring emotional response.  This is why the Bible says for us to not sin in our anger, it doesn't say don't get angry.  It says to not let the sun go down on our anger, not that we wont get angry.

The problem is most of us go through life thinking that anger in and of itself is a sin.  That to get angry is bad.  It's not.  The sin is the same sin as any other thing we let control us instead of God.  If money becomes our focus, it's a sin.  If eating becomes our focus, it's a sin.  If our spouse becomes our focus, it's a sin.

When we focus on anger, how to get even with the person who has hurt us, how to not get ourselves into a situation again that will cause us to be the "butt" of someone's joke.  Quite often, getting control of what makes us angry is the first step to controlling our anger.

My suggestion?  Make a list of the things that "set you off", than leave some space beneath each one.  Under each thing that you have listed, write down exactly why it makes you angry.  No generalizations, like because it's mean for people who speak ill of you.  It's more than that, there is a reason, something within yourself, that causes this to trigger your anger.  Or, push your button for the modern day vernacular.  As you write out what it is about each thing that bothers you, again leave a little room.  Here's your challenge: find a scripture to overcome that particular thing.

The Bible is called the Living Word for a reason.  It has a real, prescriptive answer for each and every person.  Dr. Jesus is always in 24-7-365.  He is never out of the office.

We all have a different way of anger manifesting within us, but God doesn't care.  What He does care about is that it doesn't interfere with our walk with Him.  That it doesn't become our god or an idol.  This is why Jesus said that we are to pray in the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us." or "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors"  Doesn't matter, when we are angry with someone we feel as if they "owe" us something.  As if they have taken something from us, and they "owe us an apology" at the very least.  When we release this attitude, and embrace what Jesus spoke of, we let go of anger easily.  We forgive, apology or no.  We do it because it was what was done to us.

So, if you really want to know what to do with your anger, I suggest start by grabbing a pad of paper and a writing instrument, get alone with just the Holy Spirit and yourself, and start writing down the things that anger you like I said above.  You will be starting on the road to recovery and taking mastery over one of the most controlling emotions we have.

Anger leads to depression, abusive tendencies (towards yourself and others), retaliation, intolerance, financial irresponsibility, and a host of other negative responses.  More times than not we don't even realize this is the reason we are doing what we are doing, a repressed anger finding it's outlet in a destructive way.  This is why we are instructed not to let the sun go down on our anger.  The longer we hold it, the longer it festers, the more it shows up and hurts other people.

Father,
Give us the strength to search within ourselves and find the ugliness that unresolved anger has created.  Let us face it head on, and dispose of it like the garbage that it is.  Help us to resurrect the pure and simple person that You created us to be.  Take us through the refining fire of Your Word, and burn off all the destructive, warping grudges making us the humble vessels You intended.  Empty us first so we may be filled with Your Spirit and attain to Your perfect will.  We release all harbored anger right now, in Jesus name.


Amen