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Anger (3)
We have the Holy Spirit living within us, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is ‘self-control’ (have a read of Galatians 5:23). Self-control doesn’t just refer to resisting temptation, it also refers to anger. We need to have control over our temper. That might sound easier said than done, but with the Spirit living within us, developing the fruit of self-control in our lives, it can be achieved. We might have struggled to control our temper in the past, but when we become Christians, we’re born again. The Bible says: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). That doesn’t mean that we suddenly stop struggling with things, but it does mean we can choose to live according to our new nature. God can help us have the wisdom and discernment we need to keep our anger under control. It’s natural that some things will frustrate us, and sometimes it’s right to get angry about things like injustice, but most of the time we become angry because we’re selfish, impatient, irritated, or hurt about the way we have been treated. And if we leave our anger uncontrolled it can damage relationships, cause problems at work, and even affect our health. Instead of solving things, anger only makes them worse. The more calmly we try and see a situation, the more clearly we’ll see how to handle it. The Bible says, ‘People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.’ So let’s ask God to help us be ‘people with understanding’ who can keep anger under control.
What Now?
Next time you feel anger rising up, take a minute to pray and ask God to help you control your anger.
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