2 Kings 10:32-12:21 / Acts 18:1-22 / Psalm 145 / Proverbs 18:1
Have you ever known a short-tempered person? Or been that short-tempered person yourself? I’ve known some angry people both in my family and among those who have been friends. I’m very sensitive to angry people because someone close to me growing up had issues with anger. Then because of that person’s modeled behavior, I became an angry person. Until the Lord had a little talk with me.
I don’t remember when the anger started, but I remember it being an issue until about 1991 or so – I remember the general time because it was when my oldest was a little guy and he was the only child I had at the time. I had what we would today call “road rage” so I regularly yelled at drivers, telling then how “stupid” they were, etc.
On this particular day, someone cut me off in traffic and in my anger, I yelled out, “You dumb a**!” The Spirit of God immediately said to me, “You will never do that again.” And something shifted in my heart. I was so convicted, not only of my anger and bad language, but also because my little boy was seeing modeled a behavior that I didn’t want to pass on.
I wish I could say I never get angry, but there are still times when I do. I have learned to quickly forgive the anger source and calm myself down before I also need forgiveness! When I read Psalm 145:8-9, I realized that if God is this way, He also expects me to be this way. Here’s what those verses state:
The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
This is where I need to ask God to increase my faith as the disciples did when faced with needing to forgive at all times. If the Lord is merciful, so must I be. If He is compassionate, so must I be. If He is slow to get angry, so must I be, and so on. I know we’re all a work in progress and none of us does this perfectly. But hopefully we’re growing to be more like Jesus daily.
That has been my hope and prayer for many years – to be changing and growing, and that my growth would be evident to those around me. Why? Because my growth brings honor to Jesus. This is not so I receive praise, although it is nice to hear that I’ve grown. Ultimately, this is so that my life is a light in dark places and so that others see Jesus Christ and are drawn to Him.
Anger, hatred, bitterness – all of these are the language of hell and not the language of heaven. I want to “speak” the language of heaven. That language begins with my thoughts, then travels to my heart and finally comes out of my mouth. So, if my mouth is running away with me, I better check my heart, then guard my thoughts.
This gives a whole new meaning to taking our thoughts captive and to guarding the wellspring of our hearts. (2 Corinthians 10:5 and Proverbs 4:23)
The more I grow, the more growth I realize I still need. I’m thankful to be covered under God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness – and His blood that cleanses me from all sin!
