Stirring Up Anger


I know a few people who are masters at stirring up anger. They know what words whispered to which person will get a fight started. Often, they walk away with an innocent look, unscathed by the battle they started. They are motivated by evil, not good.

Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)
Hatred stirs up strife. 

Rest assured, God knows who did what . . . always. He cannot be fooled.

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It’s OK to Be Angry

 

Here’s more Old and New Testament wisdom regarding anger:

 

 

Psalm 4:4 (ESV)
Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts
on your beds, and be silent. 

Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV)
 Be angry and do not sin;
do not let the sun go down
on your anger,
 and give
no opportunity to the devil.

Clearly, anger can, but does not have to, lead to sin. How can we keep our anger on the right side of things?

        • stop yelling (be silent)
        • think it through (ponder)
        • let it go (don’t let the sun go down)

 

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Slow to Anger


Old Testament wisdom from Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 7:9 (ESV)
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,
for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

 

New Testament wisdom from the Apostle James:

James 1:19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Similar advice, from two different men in two different eras. It’s timeless wisdom.

 

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Anger . . . Let It Go

I see more and more angry people–in the news, on social media, just going about their day-to-day activities. It’s not my anger, but it puts me on edge.

It’s nothing new. David knew about it, back in Old Testament times.

 

Psalm 37:8 (CEB)
Let go of anger and leave rage behind!
Don’t get upset—it will only lead to evil.

        • anger: in Hebrew, aph–nostril, nose, face
        • rage: chemah–heat
        • upset: charah–fret, burn

In-your-face anger, hot rage, even a slow burn. Not good for you, not good for those around you. Let go of it, or it will lead you into trouble.

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Morning Prayer: Food for the Soul

Good morning, Lord. I wake up hungry. Let me feed that hunger with thoughts of You and not social media. Teach me to hunger for Your Word, not sweet pastries. Just as I nourish my body with food that’s good for me, let me feed my soul with Your words of wisdom.

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Sleepless for the Wrong Reason


Ecclesiastes 5:12 (AMP)

The full stomach (greed) of the rich
[who hungers for even more]
will not let him sleep.

 

Let’s hunger for righteousness, not riches.

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 

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Sleep in Peace


Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

In peace I will both
lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.

Lord God, I give my worries over to You for the night. You’ll be up, You neither sleep nor slumber (Psalm 121:4). I can sleep in peace, knowing my concerns are in good hands.

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Waking and Sleeping


“Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.”
Eleanor Hull
Be Thou My Vision
, 1912
(similar to a 6th century Irish poem “Rop tú mo Baile”)

 

 

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Sweet Sleep

Proverbs 3:24 (MEV)
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.

 


When you lie down . . . and what else?

Check the context of Proverbs 3.

 

 

When you . . .

        • let your heart keep my commandments
          (verse 1)
        • trust in the Lord with all your heart
          (verse 5)
        • honor the Lord with your substance
          (verse 9)
        • do not despise the chastening of the Lord
          (verse 11)

. . . then you will sleep well.

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Morning Prayer: Sleepless

It’s morning, Lord. Some nights, sleep doesn’t come easily. My mind grinds away at worrisome, destructive thoughts. You promise peace to the one “whose mind is stayed on You” (Isaiah 25:3). Teach me to fix my thoughts on You when I can’t sleep. Transform my sleeplessness from a time of anxiety into a time of peace.

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