“When you feel angry, don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down while you’re still angry. That gives the devil a foothold, robs you of sleep, and ruins the next day—or month, or years.” (Paraphrase of Ephesians 4:26–27)
Blessed Lord Jesus, I can think of certain door-to-door salespeople I wish I’d never let across the threshold. One toe through my front door, one minute into their “pitch-n-spill” and I’m finding the quickest way to finish the visit. Help us to be that wise when the devil approaches our hearts and homes. He lost us for eternity but seeks to wreak havoc and destruction in route to his own destruction.
If the devil came knocking in a red jumpsuit with a three-pronged pitchfork in hand, we’d have no problem turning him away. Unfortunately, he often comes in the back door through our vulnerability, exhaustion—and as you remind us, especially through our anger. Jesus, help us steward our anger. It’s a confusing and important emotion.
Many of us have been on the destructive end of anger and rage, so we’re wary of hot tempers. Many of us have no clue how angry we are—masking that emotion and using its energy to live a driven, restless life. Help and free us, Lord. Anger isn’t bad, but it can be dangerous.
Jesus, help us be angry at the right time, for the right reasons, and in the right way. Melt the icy tension in our hearts. Change our rigidity into playfulness. Redirect the wasted energy of our anger into loving someone as unto you. Getting even never works. Repaying chilly relating with chilly relating only creates icebergs of distance, not even global warming can’t melt. You turn our mourning into happy dancing; certainly, you can turn our anger into foot-washing humility.
Right now, Lord Jesus, we throw open every door, window, crawlspace, and crack in our hearts to you. Come in and establish multiple footholds of mercy, grace, and compassion. Flood our hearts with your lovingkindness and supernatural compassion. So Very Amen.
