Justified anger will never lead us to sin. Righteous anger maintains integrity, whether it be a toxic thought, a hateful word, or a regrettable action. And if we’re honest with ourselves, most anger does not fit within this category.
For most of my adult life, anger has been a persistent issue. I’ve been convicted of it, repented of it, and worked hard to diffuse it. I’ve even researched how the brain manages this powerful emotion. In my book, Scarves of White: Replacing Our Issues with the Covering of Christ, I share, “Studies have shown that some people actually see the color red when they are angry. Medical Science can detect changes in the brain, like increased adrenaline. The frontal lobe contains our reasoning center, and when the emotion of anger is triggered, the amygdala (uh-mig-duh-luh) begins working overtime! Blood rushes to the frontal lobe in an attempt to calm things down. That is one good reason for counting to ten before we react. It gives our brains time to defuse our anger.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger and give no opportunity to the devil.” (ESV) This verse is important because it outlines anger as a legitimate human experience while warning us of its lure.
The Bible encourages us to deal with anger quickly so as not to give the enemy a foothold. This includes replacing lies with truth, avoiding toxic conversations, refusing to engage with irrational people, and reacting from a place of calmness and control.
A Prayer to Take With You: Lord, please keep me from sinful anger, and give no opportunity to the enemy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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