Anger, For Good?

Good Morning!! Anger in and of it's self is not a bad thing. It is God-given emotional energy, set to change your direction, or behavior,...designed for good. Sometimes, the expression of this anger-produced energy, can lead to sin,...but it wasn't meant to, and it doesn't have to. The Bible tells of many times when anger was a positive force for good. Moses' anger when the Israelites worshiped idols resulted in their repentance (Exodus 32:19-35). Jesus' anger motivated him to clear abusers from his Father's temple (Luke 19:48-48). 

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.—Ephesians 4:26,27 (NIV)

Our anger can be a positive force as well. Appropriate anger at our children's wrong behaviors can motivate us as parents to exert firm but loving discipline. Anger against injustices and wrongdoing in our communities can motivate us to do something positive about the situation. It's our responsibility to use our anger-induced energy, in positive ways,...and to teach and encourage other to do the same. 

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to control our thoughts, actions, and re-actions. 

Father God, we ask that You forgive us for the times we've used our anger in sinful ways,...not knowing how to instead use it as a positive force. Holy Spirit, help us to control our thoughts and actions, and teach us new ways to use our anger in positive ways. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

"Avoid evil! Don't be fooled into thinking that you know it all, go to God! "

Anger, Not The Right Reaction

Good Morning!! What causes anger? In reality, the answer could be "nothing." We might think that a rude driver or unfair criticism, or a friend's betrayal, angers us,...but the anger is actually our own doing. It's our chosen reaction or response, to a given situation. Many factors can stimulate anger, but it's a learned behavior we got from childhood, or being in a stressful work environment, or an affect  of poor health or medical side-effect that can cause our temper to flare more easily,...but only if we allow them to. When someone insults us or treats us badly, we can choose how to respond. If we have feelings of anger, we can choose how to express that anger.

 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.—Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

God has given us free will, to control our feelings, thoughts and actions. Will we choose unkind words, or finding ways to "get even",...or will we overlook and forgive,...it's our choice. No matter what our background or the current circumstances, we are responsible for our own behavior. No one expressed their feelings appropriately, all of the time. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us make anger our servant instead of our master.

Controlling our anger requires a clear understanding of it,...what causes it,...and how to recognize when we are about to sin with it.

Father God, when we're wronged in some way, help us to let it go, and choose the right response,...the one that is most pleasing to You. Teach us to be faster at overlooking and forgiving. Amen.

"Avoid evil! Don't be fooled into thinking that you know it all, go to God! "  

Don't Let Anger Control You

Good Morning!! Anger is one of the most common emotions we experience,..it really is a part of being human. Many of us have lost our tempers and lashed out, at others, ourselves,...and even at God. Some of us have silently boiled, in rage or frustration. Most of us would not even want to admit to being angry,...we would rather have people see us as calm and controlled. But let's face it; try as we might to avoid it, we do get angry. The good news is that we don't have to let it control our lives. The first step to ensuring that anger does not control our life is to admit that you do get angry. Ignoring anger, or the issues that anger us,  does not make them go away. Letting anger simmer beneath the surface, refusing to admit even to yourself that it is there, only leads to problems. It is important to deal with our issues as soon as possible.

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.—Psalm 4:4 (NIV)

The Bible encourages us to find ways to manage our anger. As we accept anger as a common part of life, it is vital that we learn how to deal with it. Pray for God's guidance in discovering where you are in accepting your anger and in making it your servant,...not your master.  click or copy the link to learn more. http://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control.aspx?item=1

"Nursing a grudge, has never made it better."

Lord, forgive us for the times we've been controlled by anger, and have responded to people with unkind words and thoughts. Forgive us also for sometimes just holding in our anger, and allowing it build into serious resentment, or bitterness. Teach us to better deal with anger, and not to be controlled by it. Amen.

 

 "Avoid evil! Don't be fooled into thinking that you know it all, go to God! "

Follow Your Jeader

Good Morning!! God never changes. When we climbed out of bed this morning, regardless of how we might have felt,...He had not changed during the night. He is trustworthy and consistent. God is the same yesterday,...today, tomorrow and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NIV No matter what your situation, you can turn to God. What choices are you facing? I encourage you to choose the path God lays out for you,..to choose his way, not yours,...to choose to receive his love,...to choose to trust him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.—Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV)

Doing this dose not mean you won't still have problems and challenges,...you may still suffer consequences from wrong choices you made in the past,...but you won't have to face any of them alone. God will always be there, loving you and guiding you. When you choose to trust God, and do things his way,...He has more room to work in your life. He will help us move on past the hurt or pain or failures of our past. He will give you hope for the future.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

 

Father God, we do trust You. We know You love us and that Your plan is the best plan. Please keep us on track. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

 

"Avoid evil! Don't be fooled into thinking that you know it all, go to God! "

Come To Yourself, And Head Home

Good Morning!! Jesus taught the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. This young man made many wrong choices, but ultimately he accepted responsibility for the consequences of those choices. Deciding to set out on his own, he had asked his father for his inheritance and off he went. He proceeded to make more bad choices, squandering his money on wild living. Eventually the money was gone and he fell to the position of feeding another man's livestock. He was so hungry that even the food he was feeding the pigs looked good. He thought of home,...even his father's servants would be eating better than this.

So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.—Luke 15:20 (NIV)

I think I'll return home and become one of my father's servants, he thought. I don't deserve more than that, but I believe he'll hire me. Good choices. To admit his error and not try to blame anyone else. To face up to responsibility. The young man's father saw him coming home. He ran out to meet him with open arms, killed the fatted calf and had a huge party to celebrate his son's homecoming.

If you or someone you know have you made some bad choices,...wandered off and squandered your talents, even your opportunities to do good,...I encourage you to make the right choice of coming home to your Heavenly Father,...He is waiting for you, with open arms.

 

Father God, we've all made so many mistakes. I know many of the things we've done have not pleased You, but we Thank You, for this assurance of Your Love. Please forgive us and take us into Your loving arms. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

 

"If we're not Spirit-controlled, it unlikely that we'll ever be what God intended."

Your Past, Is Your Past, Let It Go

Good Morning!! God loves us so much, that he gives us the freedom to make choices,...even bad ones. Some are of little consequence, while others can be life-changing. Our freedom of choice dates back to Adam and Eve. They made a bad choice, and sin entered the realm of mankind. The freedom to make choices, also brings responsibility. But, the good news is that no matter what poor choices we may have made in the past, there is always hope for a better future. God knew that we would make some bad choices, but he loves us so much that he sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin, and to provide a way that our relationship to Him can be restored. Some people go through life carrying the load of some wrong choices they've made, in the past. They believe they've messed up so badly that nothing good can ever come of their lives. If you've ever felt this way, or no someone else that might,...there is Good News! For anyone that want to be set free from the past,...Jesus is the answer.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:13,14 (NIV)

Jesus is the answer. He has already paid the price for your sin ... for every wrong choice you've ever made. Talk to him. Ask him to forgive you and to help you make better choices from now on. He's ready and he's more than able. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.(1 John 1:9 NIV) Remember, we are very special to God. He loves us no matter what we've done,...He's always there for us. He wants us to put the past behind, so that we can become all that He has designed us to be.

We must learn to ask for God's forgiveness,...learn from our mistakes,...and start looking forward to a future filled with hope.

Thank You Lord, for forgiving our sins. We know that we've made so many wrong choices. Help us now to put them behind us. Help us to Let It Go,...to look and move forward, to the future You have planned for us,...one filled with hope.  Amen.

 

 "If we're not Spirit-controlled, it unlikely that we'll ever be what God intended."

Be A Light, Be A Help

Good Morning!! It's my belief that; sharing our own personal experiences and insight may help our friend understand how to deal with a life-altering problem. We need to keep the conversation positive, talking about our mistakes,...but focusing more on how God helped us, and the things you learned through the process. Don't allow self-disclosure to shift the focus of the conversation, by talking too much about ones self, and away from the person you're wanting to help. It is also important that while sharing with others, that we not be too judgmental,...talking down to them, making them feel as though we're treating them like a child,...or an inferior person.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.—Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Our self-disclosure should have a clear goal, of providing insight or a perspective, that our friend does not appear to have, that can and will move them toward healing. Try to stay at a level of sharing and insight, relevant to the person's need. Freedom from a life-altering problem is a process. Pray that God will help us disclose all that will assist our friends in that process,...but not so much as to produce confusion. And pray that God will use what we say to help set our family, friends and loved ones free. 

Appropriate self-disclosure, can be a useful tool in a helping relationship.

Holy Spirit, help us be generous with our hurts, heart aches, and experiences,...sharing with the people in our lives, those things that will hasten deliverance and healing. I pray that our self-disclosure will be an encouragement to our friends,...to open up to God. In Jesus' name, Amen.

"If we're not Spirit-controlled, it unlikely that we'll ever be what God intended."