How to turn your anger into fuel to follow God
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” - Romans 12:19-20
Several years ago during the NBA playoffs, a player came up behind the great Walt Frazier and punched him in the face. Strangely, Frazier was called for the foul, not the other player. But Frazier didn’t complain. He simply called for the ball and sunk seven great shots to win the game for his team.
Anger, when channeled in the right direction, can actually be helpful. But anger wrongly managed can be destructive. In fact, it’s been shown that rattlesnakes will sometimes become so angry if they are cornered, they will actually bite themselves.
When we harbor anger and resentment, we essentially bite ourselves, allowing our feelings toward a certain person or situation to control us. But when we use anger in a way that honors God, then we’ve taken what the enemy may have intended for evil and used it for good.
Don’t let anger destroy you from the inside out. When you’re bitter, build resolve to love your enemies like never before. When you feel resentment, pray for the person who’s causing it. Take your anger and turn it into fuel for your walk with God.
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to show you areas of your life where you’re holding onto anger. Pray that He’d empower you to manage your anger in a way that honors Him.
Questions for Thought
Why do you think it’s sometimes more convenient to push our anger and resentment deep down rather than deal with it in a healthy way?
Can you think of someone who has caused you anger? How might you be able to use that anger to fuel your walk with God?
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