Some of us may be angry at the drop of a hat. Some of us may be angry for valid reasons but may wish to bring down such instances. Others may want to please the Lord by having fewer instances of anger. Still, others may be having an increase in blood pressure when they are angry and wish to avoid these occurrences totally. As Christians, we have a very effective and powerful way to control and manage anger.
Choose to read in sequence the various themes on anger management for a Christian. Else read the topic as per your desire:
1. Why are the Bible verses a powerful tool to control anger?
2. Why is controlling the tongue important?
3. What is the role of love in managing anger?
4. How can the Holy Spirit help in controlling anger?
1. Why are the Bible verses a powerful tool to control anger?
Bible scripture is Holy Spirit-breathed & authored by the Holy Spirit of God. It’s the Living Word. When we read the scripture prayerfully with earnestness, we get the opportunity and privilege to encounter Jesus Christ.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NKJV)
We also know that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Thus, as we encounter Jesus Christ by reading and praying the scripture, we get the privilege to get Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, to rule over our situation and our circumstance.
“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“ (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV )
We are also asked not to be just hearers or readers of the Bible verses but to be earnest and obedient people who follow and obey the verses.
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:21-22)
2. Why is controlling the tongue important?
The Bible says that controlling the tongue is crucial.
It goes to say that if anyone thinks he or she is religious, yet does not restrain or control his/her tongue from speaking in anger, he or she is deceiving their heart.
Thus, it’s important for all Christians to ensure that they control their anger and what they speak in anger. Rather, Christians are asked to remain silent whenever they are in a state of anger.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (James 1:26 NKJV)
The Bible also asks us to be always ready to hear and to be slow to speak and slow to express any anger. We should think and think again and consider if our conversation would be useful; only then, after much time, speak if at all we feel we are in anger. Scripture also reminds us that the wrath of man does not result in God’s righteousness. So we keep this greatly in mind, totally avoiding extreme anger.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20 NKJV)
3. What is the role of love in managing anger?
Christian ‘Love’ is the love of the Father God towards us, that he gave His begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all of us. Christian ‘Love’ is the love of Jesus Christ towards the Father in obedience towards God’s will. It is also the love of Christ towards each one of us that He chose to willingly die on the cross because He saw the Joy of salvation of all who believed and accepted Jesus Christ as savior.
A dimension of Christian ‘Love’ can be best understood in 1 Corinthians, chapter 13. You can see that love is patient and kind. Where love is, a person does not get irritable, neither does it keep a record of being wronged.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
Many of you who know anger know that anger often starts with being irritated and keeping a record of being wronged.
When you become more aware of the love of Christ, the love that paved the reason for Jesus choosing to die on the cross for redeeming you from sins, you can choose not to be irritable.
When you remember the finished work of the cross, the forgiveness for all your sins from Jesus, you are naturally prompted to keep no record of being wronged; your very need to have an expression of anger loses a reason!
4. How can the Holy Spirit help in controlling anger?
When we have an ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit, when we have a life of surrender and obedience to the Holy Spirit, we become a resting place and a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. As we keep growing in the Holy Spirit, we start to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things, there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (Galatians 5:22,23 AMPC)
The increase of peace, patience, and self-control from the Holy Spirit in us and through our lives brings changes in us. We are bound to experience a major shift in successfully controlling anger.
A colleague of mine working alongside me, after having taken up this route, once experienced the old nature of anger starting from within her, but before it was fully expressed, the Holy Spirit constrained her from expressing anger any further, and self-control took charge. What started as an expression of anger eventually became an expression of self-control. We are greatly delighted at the power of the Holy Spirit in changing our lives.
So, do not limit yourself just because you have a track record of not managing your anger. As you surrender to the Holy Spirit, you are bound to see greater control over your emotions, including anger. Yes, by surrendering to the Holy Spirit, you will discover that you are in greater control of yourself, your expressions, and your life.
