How often do you get angry? How long does your anger last? What is the cause of your anger? Have you spent time thinking about your anger to determine what the root cause of it is? Have you determined if it is righteous anger or selfish anger?
We all get angry from time-to-time. But why do we get angry? I suspect we more often than not get angry because things are not going the way we want. Our anger is more likely to be self-centered than to be righteous anger.
Ask yourself when the last time was you were angry because someone offended God. Can you think of an occasion? Then ask yourself what the real reason was you were angry the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that. Were they because someone said something you didn’t like? Was it because they did something you didn’t like?
Taking a deeper look at our reasons for getting angry tell us a lot about our own attitudes and our relationship with God. Coming face-to-face with our own selfishness, self-centeredness, and perhaps low self-esteem can be jarring. Yet, there is One who can correct those attitudes. He can fix them with His love.
When we fully understand the depth of God’s love for us, we yearn to serve Him. When we come to truly know the depth of Jesus’ love and that He went to the cross because of His love for us, we desire to be like Him. Our love for Jesus will soften our hearts and we will allow the Holy Spirit to make the changes God desires in us. As those changes happen, our selfish anger will dissipate.
I pray we all understand the depth of God’s love for us. I pray we feel the love Jesus has for us. I pray each one of us will reciprocate His love and allow the Holy Spirit to make changes in us. Know God’s love. See God’s love. Feel God’s love. Allow Him to make changes in you. Be relieved of selfish anger. Show God’s love.
Matthew 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Marty Pressey 