Are You Holding on to Anger?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:29-32

 

PONDER THIS

If you have anger in your heart, if love is not there, that doesn't mean the Holy Spirit of God forsakes you. If you are in Christ, He cannot and He will not leave you. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. What grieves the Holy Spirit? These things: bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil. Bitterness is an unresolved hurt. Somebody's hurt you and done you wrong. It may be real, it may be imaginary, but you perceive that somebody has done you wrong. Bitterness turns to wrath. The word wrath has the idea of heat, something burning, sort of a slow burn. The best illustration I can give is to think of some oily rags in an attic or a closet, smoldering with the heat building up.

What's the difference between wrath and anger? Wrath is that slow burn, but anger is when somebody opens the door, and the oxygen hits those rags and they burst into flame. You say, “Well, I lost my temper.” You probably found it. You know when a person says, “I lost my temper,” what they're saying is, “It's not really my fault, it's not really me, I lost it.” No, what is happening, is that you're showing what's in your heart. In those moments, the Holy Spirit has not forsaken you, you have Him in you to equip you and help in those moments you feel prone to bitterness, wrath, and anger.

When was the last time you lost your temper?

What would it look like to seek God when you feel prone to bitterness, wrath, and anger?

PRACTICE THIS

Write out a verse to memorize and reflect on the next time you feel prone to sinful anger.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers