Question and answer: “I get angry often, what can I do?”

You can try not to get angry! Life is full of choices and we have to choose to do the right thing. The more we surrender our will to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill and help us, the easier it will be. Ask Him to help you.

Anger in itself is not sinful, if directed for the right reason and motive. We can get angry at sin and how the devil is taking people to hell. But sadly there is also ungodly anger which most people portray, and this is sin. Godly anger can be seen in Jesus when he was grieved at the hardness of the people’s hearts, Mark 3:5. Jesus made a whip and drove the buyers and sellers out of the Temple as they had made His house of prayer into a den of thieves, Matthew 21:12-13, John 2:13-17.

Fact: We can be zealous for God’s Kingdom and concerned for His name.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ‘Be angry and sin not, do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil’

If someone wrongs or offends you, then don’t go blowing your top. If you are normally a calm person, but get really angry once and make a messy scene, everyone will remember it!

Proverbs 19:11 ‘The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression’

Wisdom: Stop and think! Act! Don’t react! Don’t be a fool - keep cool.

Ungodly anger does not solve any problems; it just reveals how much work the Holy Spirit has to do in your life. Now that you have given your life to God, you are under new management, and the old former conduct should not be permitted any more. If your tongue is engaged before your brain, then you could cause pain.

Think: Do I have a problem with anger? Do I react too quickly in a conflict?

If you have a family history of being hot-heads, it does not have to stay that way. You have a new Father and the Holy Spirit wants to help you to be conformed into the image of Jesus.

More Info: 1 Samuel 11:1-6, 1 Kings 11:9, 2 Kings 17:18, Psalms 7:11, Proverbs 10:12, 14:17, 15:1, 27:19, 29:11, 29:22, Ephesians 4:30-32, 1 Peter 4:8.

Visit the interactive version of this course online. www.byfaith.co.uk © 2003 ByFaith Media.