Prayer: Father, teach me today. Illuminate my mind regarding Your ways. Amen.
Reading: Ecclesiastes 7 key: vs. 8-10 “Better the end of a matter than its beginning. Better a patient spirit than a proud one. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the bosom of fools. Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.”
Attention: One of the first pastors I worked with as a young man was nearing retirement and he frequently lamented about the former days or “old days” which the author of Ecclesiastes warns us against. He was never able to enter the current era, as he was always fondly remembering the past.
I recently read a book authored by Brent Hansen titled, UnOff-End-Able. Here is one of his statements on anger, “Men, in particular learn to see anger as masculine. They tend to think being anger, and acting out angrily, is very much part of what it means to be a man.” Brent provides us with thoughts about how to manage our anger without it managing us. What if we are able as he suggests to embrace a position of being unoffendable?
Anger is an area that I have been challenged with all of my life. I have a short switch which can be ignited quickly. I have become less angry and gentler over the years. I can remember returning home after my first year of college. My twin sister’s commenting on how much I had mellowed. Mellowing has been a constant process and continues to this day.
Jacob (James) has this to say about anger, “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger— for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God (Jacob 1:19-20).”
Men let’s work together toward allowing the Holy Spirit to manage our anger. The benefits are huge!
Action: I choose to allow the Holy Spirit to transform my anger into peace and understanding.
Yield: I choose to submit to the Holy Spirit’s transformation in my mind, heart, and soul.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit in being transformed into Christ’s image.
Relationship: I choose to live in holy, intimate, obedient relationship with the God.
Prayer: Father, I want to glorify You! I understand that my anger does not produce Your righteousness in me. Transform me by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.
Memory Verse: Jacob (James) 1:19-20 “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger— for human anger doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.” TLV
Music Video: Phillips, Craig, and Dean—I Want To Be Just Like You
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”