In this last discussion on dealing with anger, we shall touch more areas to handle anger healthily and in God’s ways. We are visiting other passages differently from those touched in series 1 and 2 and 3 of this devotional. When you identify that you have anger issue you can on your own try more of these steps. The first step to mention here is to restrain the anger. Proverbs 29: 11 tells us that “Fools vent their anger but the wise quietly hold it back.” As seen here, the wise feel angered too. They do not burry the anger or refuse to deal with it. They place self-control over the anger and express it under controlled behaviour. When you restrain your anger, you keep it within limits.
The second thing to do to deal with anger in healthy and God’s own way is to re-evaluate it. Dr. Kevin Boll pointed out here that the God’s way of dealing with anger is to be slow to anger. To re-evaluate your anger simply means weighing the other person’s words and actions first whether they are necessary for you to react to or not. When you re-evaluate somebody’s words or actions towards you, you may discover that the person may not have intended to hurt you. Check if what is causing your anger can produce righteousness in your actions. Apostle James says: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1: 19 – 20).
The third and last point here is to release the anger. This “release it” does not mean you verbalizing the anger by shouting back at the person who might have caused the anger. But in a godly way, vent it or release it in a safe way. You might meet a third party who is not involved in the offense; complain to him or her wisely. Free your mind to listen to the person’s advice if any. Once this is done, get rid of the anger off your mind. Apostle Paul named anger among things to get rid of as Christians in Colossians 3: 8 saying: “But now you must get rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy languages from your lips.” As a Christian, when offenses come your way and anger is building up, see it as another opportunity to learn from God. Ask God for how to respond and approach everything in God’s own ways.
PRAYER:
HOLY SPIRIT, how can I see offenses which cause anger as an opportunity to learn from God? Your guiding wisdom will help me much. So grant me wisdom to control my anger as many times as it cropped up in me; in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch