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Anger and a Plan
Andrea Lende • January 2, 2021
Ephesians 4:26-27
Anger and Time
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Anger-and-Sin-eofr54
Ephesians 4:26-27
“When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.”
“Leave no [such] room for the devil [give no opportunity to him].”
Paul was talking to the Ephesians about anger and the enemy.
First, he says do not sin when you are angry.
A difficult order to carry out for sure.
It gave me pause to think about as I read this passage.
We need a tool in our toolbox to utilize when we become angry.
It has to be something readily available to us.
Maybe something that we practice so it becomes our go-to thing when we get angry.
I haven’t ever really thought about it this way until now nor have I devised a tool as of yet.
However, it seems practical and wise to think about and devise a plan because there will always be a time when anger will arise.
My immediate reaction to anger is to withdraw and go into my mind in order to think.
It takes a while for me to process my feelings and figure out how to deal with them.
Over the years I have learned to not speak out in anger, so I don’t hurt someone by saying something I don’t really mean.
But apart from that, I need to devise a more thorough plan.
Secondly, Paul warns us not to let anger consume us into the night.
Why?
Because anger leaves the enemy an opportunity to wreak havoc in our lives if we allow it to continue.
It gives the enemy a footstool to build a greater divide between us and our loved ones or those impacted by our anger.
All the enemy needs to start the destruction process is the smallest opening.
He wants to steal our peace, joy, and love.
He cannot do this unless we give him the opportunity and then allow it to happen.
We would never knowingly want to give him this opportunity.
So, we need a plan protect ourselves, our hearts, and the hearts of our loved ones.
Paul gives us wise advice to help set up this protection.
Be careful when anger comes.
Don’t do anything rash.
And let it go quickly.
Work it out and let it go.
Today I choose to live in peace and love in order to protect myself and my loved ones.
May you find the Lord will guide you as you work through how to deal with anger and will enfold you in His love as He shows what will work for you.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me the wisdom in preparing a plan to deal with anger. Thank You for Paul’s words of caution about dealing with anger quickly so I don’t give the enemy a footstool to destroy any piece of my life or my loved ones. Lord, please help me come to You with whatever difficulty I encounter and allow You to work on my spirit and heart to find peace quickly. Help me easily let go of the emotions I feel and not harbor resentment toward anyone. May You fill my heart with peace and grace for all those around me. Help me forgive easily. Lead me to peace and help me seek peace wherever I go. Thank You for continuing to teach and guide me, Father. Thank You for imparting more wisdom into my soul. I pray for more wisdom – as much as You will give me. May I become more like You every day. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM with you, My child, and will impart more of My wisdom in your heart as I lead and guide you.
Response: Thank You, most gracious and merciful Lord.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.