Do Not Let Anger Rule You

For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God wishes and requires.
— James 1:20 (AMP)

Anger is one of the emotions that must be kept under firm control at all times. Acting in anger often leads to actions that we later regret. The Bible makes it clear that human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. In other words, when we act impulsively out of anger, we are almost certain to act outside of God’s will.

Even more dangerous than acting in anger is holding on to it for too long. Prolonged anger opens the door for the devil to influence our thoughts and decisions. The Apostle Paul warned against this when he said,

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.
— Ephesians 4:26–27 (KJV)

Holding on to anger gives the enemy an opportunity to sow bitterness, resentment, and evil intentions in our hearts. This is exactly what happened to Absalom, the son of King David. After his half-brother Amnon raped his sister Tamar, Absalom became furious and held on to that anger for two years.

And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
— 2 Samuel 13:22 (NIV)

Eventually, that anger turned into hatred, and Absalom murdered his brother. Although Amnon’s action was indeed wicked, Absalom allowed anger to rule him until it led to sin. This shows that no matter how justified our anger may seem, we must not let it linger or dictate our actions.

When anger controls us, we end up serving the devil’s purpose instead of God’s. It clouds our judgment and distances us from the peace and righteousness that come from walking in the Spirit.

Is there someone you are still angry with? Let it go today. Release the offense and free your heart. Holding on to anger only gives the enemy room to work.

Prayer:
Father, help me to keep my emotions under your control. Teach me to let go of anger quickly and to respond to every situation with love and wisdom. May my actions always reflect your righteousness. Amen.