“Make
no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you
learn his ways, and set a snare for your soul”—Proverbs 22:23-24
Anger can wreak havoc on both the body
and soul, but its tentacles reach beyond the individual and wrap around
everyone in close proximity. Bitter outbursts and silent resentment are not
just our own personal issues.
An angry spirit is contagious. It is
passed from one person to another—and from one generation to the next. Workplaces can become tense environments full
of caustic words and attitudes. Anger turns
homes into battlegrounds of verbal explosions or silent hostility. Even churches suffer from malicious gossip
and fights over personal preferences.
God
created us to live in fellowship with others, but anger can poison our relationships. Tragically, those closest to us
are the ones who suffer the most. Children learn to respond to life's situations
by observing their parents' example. They
then develop similar attitudes and patterns of behavior. We need to give serious thought to what kind
of heart we are passing down to our sons and daughters.
Thankfully,
God is in the heart-changing business. Just
as we learn an angry person's ways by association, so we can learn right-eous
ways by walking closely with the Lord. Christ
calls us to come, learn from Him—and find rest for our souls “Come to Me, all you who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest fro your souls” (Matthew
11:28-29).
Which
would you prefer: churning anger or
Christ's peace? Both require sacrifice. To maintain anger, you might have to forfeit healthy relationships and a godly
heritage for your descendants. But to acquire peace, ask God to help you
leave your grudges, personal rights, and insults on the altar. Why not do that today?
Prayer—Father I give you my anger
towards_________________. I repent for
harboring ill feelings, resentments, grudges, and anger and I ask You to forgive
me. I ask You to deliver me from a
spirit of anger and that Your peace to flood my mind and heart, in Jesus Name.
Amen.
