June 23, 2012

Avoid the Angry

Written by Boyd Bailey

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- June 23, 2012

“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.  Proverbs 22:24-25

Avoid the angry and do not make friends with those easily angered. They are undependable and hard to get along with. You cannot predict what an angry person will do next. They may lie, lash out, sulk, blame, or even kill if their rage is left unchecked. The source of their anger may be as simple as not getting their way, or it may be a string of broken expectations all the way back to a wounded childhood. Your role is not to fix them or to be their therapist.However, when you do have to associate with them, there may be an opportunity for you to model peace and calm. But be very careful; do not become like them. Their impatient ways may become your impatient ways. Their rude tendencies may become your rude tendencies. Their sarcasm may become your sarcasm. Their blowups may become your blowups. Yes, the angry can change, but real change will only occur as God heals their hearts.

Unless forgiveness penetrates an angry heart, it is destined to remain the same. Hard and stubborn is a heart driven by anger. Unless anger is gently unwound by grace and love, it may unleash its furor suddenly or may constantly simmer just beneath the surface. You may be the object of someone’s anger simply because you happen to be around them when they snap. They are a product of stuffed emotions.

Some angry people are hard to avoid because you live with them. What now? You certainly pray for and with them. Pray earnestly for the angry person you live with to allow him or herself to experience God’s love. Their heavenly Father can squeeze the venom of vengeance out with His holy hugs. The love and acceptance of God can flush out foul language and faithless living. To be loved by God is to not remain angry, for the Lord’s love and anger cannot coexist. Unconditional love that is received melts the heart of anger.

Be very careful to avoid business partnerships with the chronically angry. You will regret a relationship like that, and you will be angry with yourself for aligning with the angry. Even engaging with employees, vendors, and customers who are steeped in their anger is not healthy. God will provide more pleasant clients or staff. Cut loose those who linger, stew, and obsess over little things. It’s not worth it. They will never be satisfied with your service or your sincere encouragement.

People driven by anger are never content; nothing you do will make them happy. Their anger may subside momentarily, but you will remain on pins and needles, waiting for them to erupt at any moment. In addition, angry children need to learn how to bring their hurts to their heavenly Father in prayer. Unprocessed hurt feelings will fester into anger. Help them to talk about why they have feelings of anger. What makes them mad at themselves? Unresolved anger is a time bomb waiting to explode.

If you’re the one who’s angry, a safe environment to talk through your heated emotions is a great place to start on the path to peace. Channel your anger into proper passions that are sanctified by your Savior. Be angry at sin, while forgiving yourself and others. Avoid the angry, and release your own anger within to your heavenly Father above. Friendship with the angry creates angst with God. Friendship with the forgiven—and healed—promotes peace with God. Go with peace.

Taken from June 23rd reading in the 365-daydevotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God”… http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

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Comments

  1. Cathy says:

    This truly helped me today. Actually pretty much everything has helped me, but this anger thing hit a note. Wondered why I was so angry as it is not me usually, but I was trying to ‘save’ the world and the people trying to save so angry and hateful and I was trying to change their minds. Need to let them be and walk away and just pray for them.

  2. Jessica says:

    So how then do you deal with a parent who is constantly angry whenever they talk to you and before you were saved your anger became their anger and now there is division between you? I haven’t spoken to my parent since Christmas because of this issue and because of his pride. I want the relationship to be reconsiled but am uncertain it can be.

  3. Karen King via Facebook says:

    Worth reading ….

  4. I’t so true we have to learn not to get mad so easy.

  5. Otto Zambrana says:

    I happened to hurt a very special person in my life…a friend like no other. She loves God and relies on Him for evrything, including swift justice. All I can say is that my heart is undergoing one heck of a storm and my soul is not at peace. My God loves her so much He is working that on me. However, He love me the same way cuz He’s the Father who teaches His son to become a better person. It does hurt but I deserve it and I’m glad He’s there for me even to punish me. Blessed be you name, Almighty God!

  6. kira says:

    I enjoy reading these words of widsom everyday. It gives my day a good boost. I always considered myself a very positive person. But, recently I have been experiencing this issue of being angry and trying to move past the hurt. I’m forgiving of the person but not forgetting what the person has done. I pray and ask god to give me grace to accept and be a better person. Everyday it gets easier and my heart becomes more open and happier because of it.

  7. vicki adams says:

    What if you are married to an angry person?


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