Sunday, September 16, 2012

Learning Self-Restraint

Anger Controlls HimAnger Controlls Him (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
    do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Psalm 37:8

New International Version (NIV)

          I'm much better than I used to be.  Although I've never been overly contentious with others for the most part, I've had my fits of resistant anger.  I still can be very opinionated and under certain circumstances be willing to vocalize those opinions.   This often does more harm than good and in the end I am resentful and  relationships are strained.

         We have been in some crazy times of late.  We have seen the results of organized anger and the resulting evil.  As we grow nearer to the U.S. elections there will be many bitter and accusatory words flying in the air.   My advice is to listen carefully and only engage when the opposition wants to listen carefully to you.   This is the season when a lot of people are hearing a lot of words, but nobody understands much of anything that is said.

        When we don't listen, we don't know what has been said.  A blind shouting match is an invitation to hatred.  


My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger.  Anger does not help you live the way God wants.

James 1:19-20

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)




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3 comments:

  1. Without my anger, I would cease to be...
    ...me.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    ReplyDelete
  2. A very timely post indeed! Ugh! Aren't you just wishing the election were over already??? ...and man, I hope my candidate wins! Of course, if he doesn't...no, not going there, he really needs to win! Best of Sunday to you, Arlee:) Wishing you only good things! M. J.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lee, this is such a timely post. Anger, to me, is the most frightening emotion and I always keep in my heart the knowledge that a gentle answer turns away wrath.

    Have an excellent week, esteemed friend.

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