I CAN’T KEEP FROM FLYING OFF THE HANDLE. IT’S JUST WHO I AM!
Whenever God tells us to do or not do something, He is telling us that it is something we are capable of doing or ceasing.
Here, we’re told to control our temper. As in, when we feel the emotion of anger, we don’t let it control us, we control it.
Have you ever seen a person (maybe in the mirror) on the highway who has gotten angry about something another driver has done? The gestures, the faces, the tailgating, the aggressive behavior? Does that appear sane or foolish?
God says when we display uncontrolled anger
we are labeled as fools.
I think this is because when we let anger have control of us, our thinking brain shuts down and vacates the area. Our mouths rattle off with zero thought. We can’t come up with a viable argument for our anger and we rant on.
Christian, we ought not to be like that in any circumstance.
Mind you, there’s nothing here that says you can’t feel angry. In the New Testament, Paul said to be angry but not sin. The emotion of anger is not the problem. It’s the letting it control us that is.
As followers of Jesus, we have a Controller.
He is the Holy Spirit.
When we let anger or jealousy or fear
or anything else control us,
we are replacing God
on the throne of our lives.We are allowing something else
to be the god of our lives.
How do you stop this losing your temper thing?
Whenever you feel a strong emotion like anger or fear, just stop. Step away from the situation. Stop the flow of whatever you’re doing, just for a few minutes. Get alone so you can process the emotion and ask yourself why it’s so strong. What is it bringing up in you? Why is it so overwhelming?
Then remind yourself that this can become a temptation to do wrong and God has already provided an out for you to avoid the temptation.
USE IT.
I’m not saying to swallow the words and ignore your feelings. I’m saying to process them without lashing out or acting in an uncontrolled way. Don’t say words or do things you know will destroy. Just don’t.
Seek God in the midst of your strong emotions. Don’t let the emotion get ahead of the Spirit’s leading. Let Him take control of them.
As you exercise this control muscle, you’ll get better at it. You’ll be better able to feel and deal in a sane and godly way, which will confound your enemy and amaze the people around you. It’s worth it.
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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