Slow, sinless anger
By Jon Walker
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-21 (NIV)
The slammed door; the ‘if looks could kill’ stare; the menacing tone; the threatening language. The silence; the cold shoulder; the eyes that flash; the pointed finger; the phrase that blames.
These are all behaviors emerging from our anger. They’re weapons of the flesh that express our lack of faith. Even when our anger is an appropriate emotion for the circumstance, we still instinctively grab for the most convenient weapon of the flesh, instead of relying on God’s weapons of the spirit. (2 Corinthians 10)
When we use these weapons, we reveal how little faith we have that God can, or will, engage the frustrating people and situations we face; we expose our deep, inner belief that God is incapable of hammering out justice in circumstances from a hang-nail to horrific.
What does this mean?
- Seek God, not your anger – Instead of ‘seeking’ your anger, seek God. Your anger will not bring about God’s righteousness; on the other, God takes care of our most basic needs – even the need for justice – as we “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33, NIV)
- Feast on God’s fruit, not ‘anger fruit’ – When we try to bring about righteousness by using un-righteousness anger (Again, there can be God-righteous anger), we simply create more conflict, passive or aggressive. The fruit of God’s righteousness is peace; the effect of his righteousness is “quietness and confidence forever,” peaceful dwelling places, secure homes, undisturbed places of rest. (Isaiah 32:17-18, NIV)
- Give your flesh-weapons to God – Pray, “God, help me to exchange my weapons of the flesh with weapons of your spirit. When I get angry, remind me I am making a choice and uncover any faithlessness in me that compels me to anger quickly. Then, help me receive your grace as you transform my anger into Sabbath trust.
If you’d like to receive these devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. Jon Walker writes from www.gracecreates.com. He is a Zondervan author, and the former writer/editor of the Purpose Driven Life On-Line Devotionals. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.
