Slow To Anger Aug 10 2012

"Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God." - James 1:19-20

Whether it is with strangers in airports or on the soccer fields or football fields- especially as our kids get a little bit older and they get more competitive. It happens in the work place, at school, and yes, even in the family of faith—our churches. Especially at home with our spouse, with our kids, sometimes when we don’t see eye to eye trying to rear those little ones up and then we get aggravated with those teenagers —we’re just not connecting with them. Why can’t they see? Why can’t they understand? Well, guess what? The adolescents say the same thing about parents. I believe we can all stand to hear a word from the Lord today when it comes to anger.

James begins teaching us how to control our anger. We control our anger when we root ourselves in the Word of God. When we align ourselves with the Word that has birthed us, shaped us and preserves us, and fall in submission to the Word of God, we line up with the character of God. Anger’s a journey isn’t it? Sometimes it begins with a hurt, or when you have been slighted or misunderstood, or maybe when others don’t meet your expectations. You’ve been stabbed in the back, when you’ve been left out, when you are not understood in your desires and your wants. You’re criticized sometimes fairly but, a lot of times unfairly. You’re irritated. You’re aggravated. Anger is a journey that begins with one of these types of emotions. (You can fill in your own blank about what sets you off.)

But God's Word gives us this wonderful, simple remedy, two sides of one coin. Be quick to hear, slow to speak. Be good listeners. Be slow talkers. Count to ten before you speak, and that will slow you down on the way to anger. And never, ever let the sun go down on your anger. Don’t let Satan get a foothold on another day of anger. You’ll be glad. I promise you that.