Absolutely nothing but yourself is keeping you from being filled with joy today, and the same is true of the days that lie ahead. Be encouraged! You and I do not have to live in a state of discouragement because we have a choice to not submit to it.
Anger
Nobody can make us angry. We choose to be angry. That's a fact. And there are definitely words and actions that push our buttons. And anger is justified as long as we do not sin.
"In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV).
We all become angry. Some of us live in a perpetual state of anger. At others. At the world. At our ex partners. At anything!
But note when Paul is saying. Don't let anger take ahold of you. The reason is because Satan is looking for an opportunity to destroy your life in any way he can
Peter knew this very well!
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are" (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT).
Many Christians and non-believers alike have committed atrocious, spontaneous acts of violence and destruction in their fits of anger. Some have paid the ultimate price of life imprisonment or faced the death penalty for their actions.
So be encouraged, we are given tools to overcome our anger.
Overcoming
Hey, it's easy to be triggered these days. I ordered some expensive perfume for my wife and it arrived yesterday. It was a Christmas present. She received it from the delivery driver and said, "Babe, your delivery is here!"
"Oh, which one?" I inquired.
"It's some perfume," she advised.
"How do you know this?" I was perplexed.
"I can smell it."
I took the package into my office and opened it. Sure enough one of three fragrances had a crack and had leaked. I contacted the seller who blamed it on the delivery man. The delivery man blamed it on the seller. It was the typical blame game. I was a bit peeved but I did not sin. Within 10 minutes I was over it. I had overcome the small temptation to sin.
You and I can overcome this anger and be encouraged in our faith once we determine to choose not to be angry and sin.
Godly principles
There are to Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as anger. One of them means passion or energy, while the other means agitated and/or, boiling. You can figure out which one is sinful anger rather easily.
But here is the rub: Anger can only be sinful when it is motivated by our pride. James writes:
"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 that God desires" (James 1:19-20, NIV).
Application
Keep in mind that Jesus is always there for us.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (Isaiah, 43:2 NIV).
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV).
We need to pray when those times of discouragement come upon us, and we need to stand firm in our faith.
"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord" (Psalm 31:24, NIV).
Take heart that whatever besets us today will disappear. A new attack will come upon us, but we choose to be discouraged or encouraged. Be encouraged! The Lord our God is on our side!
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I believe that we are the cause of the pain and anger we exhibit.