Anger Management

What should we do when we are feeling angry? When our blood begins to simmer then boil over that turns our faces bright red and our head swimming, what do we need to remember? Hmmm..

"Anger exposes foolishness and lack of discernment" -- Hugh Hefner

Proverbs 14:29 - A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 - Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Proverbs 19:11 - A man’s wisdom gives him patience;it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 16:32 - Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

* Anger produces STRIFE.

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:18 - A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 30:33 - For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

Take note that not all anger is bad. Anger towards sin is good because in that way, we reject sin in our life. But more often than not, we can't control our anger. So we should avoid having dissension/conflict even if it resulted from 'righteous anger'.

* The Bible makes it clear who is in control

Ephesians 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:8 - But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Psalm 37:8 - Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Here, we see it clearly that we are commanded to remove any anger and rage from our life. As discussed in the first point, anger just exposes our foolishness. Even if it is a good anger, we may not be able to control our emotions which can lead to evil (Ps. 37:8). The Bible also tells us who is responsible for our anger. Usually, we blame other people for it, we blame our situation, we blame life and sometimes we blame God. We can say that it's not our fault since we were only provoked that's why we went crazy mad. But God tells us that we, ourselves, are the who should get rid of all emotions of anger and bitterness in our hearts because we are the one responsible for our actions. How do we do that? Read on..

* Wrong ways how to handle it

1. Ignore it

2. Just let it out - dangerous

3. Store it - explode or death

These three are the common misconception when it comes to dealing with our anger-related conflicts. Ignoring it doesn't resolve anything. Letting it out is just as useless, once we've lashed out hurtful words, it would be difficult to take it back. Keeping the anger to ourselves and not letting it go is like a sleeping volcano waiting to erupt.

Matthew 5:23-24

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

* Value of Man's Anger

James 1:19-20

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

* Bible's golden principle

Ephesians 4:26 - “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry

What to do: Be honest with yourself and God (Example, Jesus in the garden)

1. Identify sources of anger

2. Determine to settle it

3. Release it

a. Spiritually - pray and seek answers in the word; seek for Godly counsel

b. Mentally - accept the situation and leave in God's hands

c. Emotionally - forgive and let it go

d. Physically - exhale, sports, time alone, sleep, movie, laughter, shop, clean

The next time that you feel that you will be angry, remember how you can release it (spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically).

God bless!