Posted on 07/01/2013 8:33:25 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Prov. 14:29).- Proverbs 14:29
A wise man once compared the human personality to a minefield. “Some people,” he said, “have relatively few mines and interacting with them does not often provoke anger. Others have mines lined up side-by-side from one end of the field to the other, and it does not take much to push them over the edge into a fiery rage.”
All of us have mines buried in our personalities. Some of us respond calmly to most situations that upset us. But others among us explode with anger at the slightest provocation. The degree to which irritation is tolerated varies from person to person, and though we have seen there are times when our anger is righteous, we often express it unrighteously.
The Greek philosopher Socrates saw a direct correlation between right behavior and right understanding. For example, if someone understands courage properly, he will be courageous. Socrates can be faulted for missing the affective or emotional dimension to our behavior, but he was correct to see a link between our thoughts and actions, and, we might add, our minds and feelings as well. As Scripture teaches, “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7 NKJV).
Taking this rational approach in mind, there are several practical steps we can take to avoid sinning when we are angry. First, we need to recognize that all anger is rooted in some kind of pain, be it physical or emotional. Typically we move from pain to anger and often this anger only intensifies. Joe’s thoughtless comment may hurt Mary’s feelings, and thus she responds in anger. Joe is hurt by her anger and gets mad himself, causing her to become more indignant, and so on. But this cycle can be stopped if we pause to consider what makes us mad. We can also look for what is hurting the other person and address the pain so that anger does not become destructive.
Second, we can take care not to let the pain caused by others make us fractious with our families. If we have had a bad day at work, for example, we should do our best not to bring it home with us. If we have a short temper with our families because of problems elsewhere, we have sinfully expressed our anger.
Today we can apply the practical suggestions Dr. R.C. Sproul gives in this final lecture on anger by asking ourselves several questions. What tends to make me mad and why? What behavioral characteristics annoy me, and what are the reasons? When we do this, we can better prevent irrational anger and avoid situations that we know will enrage us until we can calmly address the problem. Ask yourself what makes you angry and seek Gods help to deal with it.
Prov. 16:32; 19:11
Joel 2:1213
Titus 1:7
James 1:1921
....we need to recognize that all anger is rooted in some kind of pain, be it physical or emotional. Typically we move from pain to anger and often this anger only intensifies...this cycle can be stopped if we pause to consider what makes us mad. We can also look for what is hurting the other person and address the pain so that anger does not become destructive.
bfl. Thanks Alex.
Not pain but fear...we fear that we will not get something we want or lose something we already have.
Right acting will always lead to right thinking....I cannot think myself into right behavior
I believe this devotional was written by R.C. Sproul himself.
Right acting will always lead to right thinking....I cannot think myself into right behavior
_______
If we aren’t able to think ourselves into right behavior God wouldn’t have given us the Ten Commandments and all laws would be useless.
Some people get too angry, too fast. Personally, I don’t get angry enough when I legitimately should. I don’t know which is worse.
Thanks for the post. As a new Believer my daily prayers include asking God for help with my frustration and patients levels. Very helpful.
also asking for help with my spelling LOL
patients = patience
bookmark
bfl
Not Just Pretty Words
What happens when we do not Forgive?...
We become trapped in a House of Mirrors
Each reflecting the Harm back at ourselves
Nonsense....God’s gift was the Ten Commandments ( that’s His action towards us not our thinking them into existence). Moses took the tablets his action...Moreover the Son told me clearly that I am saved by GRACE and not by the law because ALL have fallen short.
None of man’s thinking has ever brought him into right standing with God. Grace and grace alone has done so.
We will have to agree to disagree.
I guess some folks do not understand what grace is
K
Welcome to the Kingdom GB!! Praise to the LORD.
One of my favorite prayers is that of the Centurion: “I believe, help my unbelief”! And He always does - always!! Not exactly in the way I would have gone about it - ha! But, He ways are always perfect. Always!
Thanks Lupi!! God bless!
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