“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. Eph. 4:26–27
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. Ps. 37:8
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. Eccl. 7:9
Lord Jesus, you never tell us in the Bible that the emotion of anger is bad. But in our anger, we must be careful not to sin. We need your help with this, big time. Indeed, help us be angry at the right time, for the right reasons, in the right way. Presently in our culture, we are witnessing so much destructive, “devilish” anger.
So help me, and my friends, steward the important emotion of anger. Some of us carry heart-wounds from the searing power of shaming, raging, and contempt. We don’t wish such a crushing of the spirit or demeaning of a heart on anyone. At the same time, we own the ways our sinful anger has hurt people we love.
Show us what’s below and behind our misuse of this very important emotion, Jesus. Change our rigidity into playfulness. Harness the wasted energy of our unrighteous anger for a commitment to work for justice by mercy.
Turn our passive-aggressive anger into active-seeking encouragement. Topple our idols of control and perfectionism, by a greater experience of your beauty, kindness, and grace.
Right now, Jesus, we throw open every door and window of our hearts. Come in on this June Friday, and establish footholds of mercy, compassion, and kindness. Free lodging for anger must come to an end. So very Amen we pray, in your peerless and priceless name.
