Cease from Anger

“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret- it only causes harm” Psalm 37:8

Have you ever caught yourself wondering about the uncertainties of life? You begin to think about what may or may not happen with the questions of ‘What If’. Something like, “What if I don’t make it? What if I don’t get the job? What if my relationship fails? What if my health doesn’t improve? Or What if I don’t get married or get a child” It is such questions of ‘What Ifs’ that opens the door for anxiety, wrath and anger.

Thinking too much about the ‘What Ifs’ in your mind slowly builds up negative emotions in your heart. You slowly begin to feel sad, angry, anxious, and afraid and it makes you even doubt yourself. Since we do this without even realizing it, our moods change. We then become sour, annoyed, disappointed and worried about the things that are untrue. We just formed the negative scenarios in our minds and played it over and over in our minds until it begin to affect us and those around us. When not careful we often end up regretting the aftermath of our actions; the things we said or did that caused harm to others. It is difficult to see truth in a state of anger.

In Psalm 34, we are taught to cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret. The question is, what is the source of the anger, and the anxiety that boils in our hearts? Is it because we dwell too much on the negative thoughts associated with the ‘What Ifs’? You cannot remain peaceful, joyful, calm, and hopeful and yet you still continue to dwell on thoughts that drains your energy, thoughts that pulls your spirit down or thoughts that only focuses on revenge.

So, where did we go wrong? It all started from thoughts we chose to play on our minds. The good news is the Bible provides a way to go about it. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God is.” –Romans 12:2. Rather than focusing on low level kind of thoughts (negative thoughts that pulls you down), instead dwell on higher level kind of thoughts (positive thoughts that uplifts you higher). As a man thinks, so he becomes. If you want to live on a higher level, you must be willing to dwell your mind on thoughts that are higher.

At some point in your life, you may be angry about something or someone, but how do you deal with it? In Ephesians 4:26-27 says, ‘“Be angry and do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Nor give place to the devil.’ Feelings of anger may come upon you, but that doesn’t give you the license to sin, or revenge. Be quick to forgive the other person no matter how painful the harm they may have caused you. Keeping this door open by holding on to the grudge, allows the devil to come into your mind takes control of you.

The best way to deal with evil is with good. It is important that you choose to dwell on things that are higher and doing good to people who have hurt or disappointed you. To rise higher spiritually it means letting go of wrath, bitterness, anger, clamor, malice and evil speaking so that your lifestyle may be full of kindness, peace, love, hope and forgiveness.

I pray that whenever you are tempted to act out of anger, you may remember Psalm 37 (Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret- it only causes harm) and Ephesians 4:26-27 (Be angry and do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Nor give place to the devil) Be blessed.