11Aug16

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Anger is not a bad thing. When we see atrocities occur, when we see injustice in our midst, when we see the innocent abused, anger is an appropriate response. We should be angry. We should be passionately opposed to darkness. The problem with anger is that it is most often not applied to the plight of others but, our own offence. When we feel we have been slighted, short changed, or disrespected we become angry. This is not an appropriate form of anger. This is the opportunity the devil loves to utilize. It's the root of self-centeredness. It's the sin portion. When we act on our anger, when we want to harm another because of something that has been done to us, then we allow the wound to fester. It's infected. It needs to be cleansed, cleaned out, and sterilized for it to be useful anger. That only comes with reflection, prayer, and release... not immediate action. Pause, think, breathe. Are you angry because this is about you or because it is about protecting others? If it's about you... then you need to bring it to God to be purified before you can act on it. Don't let it fester. Don't give it more of your time. Don't let it steal your joy. You control your anger... not the other way around.