ANGER NOT

            A lady once came to Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. "There's nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said. "I blow up, and then it's all over."

            "So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!"        

Proverbs 16:32, He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Three major causes of anger are: Fear, Frustration, Hurt/Pain

            Fear coming from unknown lab results, job applications, unsettled relationships, etc. Frustration coming from- more month than money, co-workers, bosses, broken down vehicles, etc. Hurt or pain coming from former friends, family, etc.

How do we deal with anger?

1.         Trust- Proverbs 3:5-7, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

2.         Confess- Talk things over with those who you are frustrated with.

            James 5:16, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

3.         Forgive- Ephesians 4:30-32, And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

            Hey friend, either you will be lords over your anger or your anger will rule your life! So, Anger Not!

WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY?

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.  --Thomas a Kempis

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. Proverbs 14:17

Anger is a hindrance to the Child of God. It will get you off your game plan causing you to open your mouth and insert your feet!  If you constantly get angry over the least little thing, you need to get alone with God so He can work in your heart exposing the sin that keeps tripping you up. You need to confess and repent of the sin that is exposed, trusting He will help you never do it again.

What makes you mad?

When I hear of anybody losing his temper, I always pray that he may not find it again.  Such tempers are best lost. –Spurgeon

Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Proverbs 22:24

I’m not going to lie to yah, I get angry sometimes. Imagine that, a preacher/pastor that gets angry. Many would say, “You can’t do that.” My response is, you better not look because I’m human to.” You ask, “What gets you angry?” Well, actually a lot of things; someone not keeping their word, someone being late for an appointment, someone speaking about something they know not of, liars…liars get me angry, and onions on any of my food. Things get us all angry. But how we deal with that anger is what makes the difference.

If I get a burger and it has onions on it after I order it with no onions, I don’t get mad, I just take it back and ask for a totally different burger so they won’t just pull the onions off and hand it back to me. (The taste is still there.) If a person tells me a little lie about something that I know is a lie… I just mark that person and realize if they will lie about this then they will lie about anything and I can’t trust them. If someone says they are going to do something and they don’t. I mark them as well. I may give them another opportunity but if they fail again…then I won’t ask anymore.

Friend there are so many ways to handle anger but be sure of this…how you respond to someone else’s actions could land you up in the big house for an extended stay. Just remember what Solomon said under the inspiration of God, Proverbs 16:32, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Why you so angry?

Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.  --Thomas a Kempis

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Sometimes we get angry for the simplest of reasons; a toilet lid left up, a supper not finished on time, or someone messing up a project you have been working on for days. But in the end, is it enough to lose a spouse or friend over? No, probably not. So why not forgive them before your anger turns into something irreparable? By the way…didn’t the Lord forgive you?