Dealing with Anger and Our Mouth!
Share
Do you ever get angry and say or do things that you later regret?
Sometimes I get angry from the day-to-day stressors in my life and find that my expression of anger is not always Christ-like. Sometimes it’s down right ugly and embarrassing. And the people around me get it first… my family. Whether it’s the kids getting yelled at for doing something I told them not to do or my husband getting a harsh tone because he forgot to put the food up last night. There can be legitimate reasons to be angry but the bible tells us how we should respond in these moments.
Jesus never said were not allowed to get angry. But he cares how we express that anger. Are we sinning in that expression of anger? What is considered a sinful expression of anger? Well we need to read a few more scriptures to find out. Also notice here how we are giving the devil access to our lives when sin in anger. You don’t want that so let’s learn how Jesus wants us to express our anger.
When we are angry, we are communicating a grievance to someone but the bible tells us how we should communicate that. In your expression of anger are you edifying? To edify means to build up, so the opposite is tearing down. Are you tearing the esteem and character of the person you are expressing your anger towards? Be honest with yourself as you reflect on these questions.
You can express your feelings and give your kids correction but is it through the filter of bitterness, wrath, clamour (which is noisy shouting aka yelling), and evil speaking? If so, then you have to correct that. Communicate in a way that is not corrupt or evil.
Is your response to the person gentle? It’s hard to be gentle when you’re angry but the Lord can help you. And he has given you the Holy Spirit to constrain you and have self-control. Wherever we lack in our strength, the Holy Spirit comes in and supports us. You are not in this alone. You have a helper and resurrection power in you. If you have power to raise the dead in you through the Holy Spirit, then surely you have power to hold your tongue so nothing sinful comes out. Let’s exercise that power in both ways. Amen!
There are many more scriptures we can read to further understand this topic but these are just a handful to get you started in the right direction. And to make this discussion full circle, I want to give a little disclaimer.
Disclaimer:
Sometimes when someone repeatedly offend or disrespect you, your response may not be soft and gentle but instead a strong rebuke. However, there is a proper process and context concerning rebukes. For one, you shouldn’t rebuke an adult the same way you rebuke a child. It’s another level of respect that you need to have with the adult. And you have to take a few steps before you even get to a rebuke. Your first response should never be a rebuke or strong correction. There needs to be clear communication of boundaries with you and the other person, an exercising of patience, reminders, and accountability.
With that being said, there does come a time when you need to respectfully and directly correct someone who is willfully sinning against you. There also needs to be a clear understanding of “if you continue to sin against me in this way, we can not have fellowship”. Because the bible says in Eph 5:11 “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them.” People need to understand that there are consequences to sin and sometimes we as humans need to feel and experience those consequences in order to realize our errors and have a change of heart. Afterall, the Father, after we ignore his warnings and corrections, will chastise us and allow us to feel the consequences of our sins as well. So keep in mind, that there is a process by which you show patience, longsuffering, correction, and then get to a rebuke. Be led by the Spirit in your unique situation and seek counsel. There’s safety in counsel.
But let’s pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us with our communication and anger.
Prayer:
Lord,
I see in your word that you have standards and guidelines for how I should express anger and communicate with others. I confess that I have not always done this your way. And at times I have been sinful and rebellious in this area. Forgive me Father. I desire to do things your way. Lord, I want my communication to be pleasing to you. Your word says “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). So Father, I ask you to examine my heart and reveal to me any place that I have bitterness, wrath, malice, evil, hurt, and unforgiveness. Reveal it and heal it, Lord.
Pour more of your love into my heart so that my mouth will speak of your love. So that my words are edifying and build others up. Because I have your Holy Spirit, I know that you can help me and empower me to control myself when I get angry. Remind me in those moments of frustration and overwhelm to turn to you for help and restraint. And Lord let any damage that I have done to others around me be healed. Restore any relationships that I have destroyed due to my anger. Thank you for forgiving me. And I forgive myself for yielding to sin. Lord, thank you for empowering me. Thank you for helping me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Alright yall! Remember to show grace to yourself as you begin to practice and implement this word. If you fall, pick yourself back up and try again. Meditate on the verses in this article to strengthen these scriptures in your heart. Come back and repeat this prayer as many times as you need.
Love yall fam,
Dasia