Peace Not Anger
Patience is better than pride.
It is a great help in life.
Be humble, meek, and gracious
Whether in peace or in strife.
Do not be quick to anger.
Repress those thoughts and be still
For anger lives among fools,
And the heart’s depths it will fill.
Don’t say this of former days,
“Yesterday was much better.”
It all depends on the Lord,
And we are all His debtors.
We owe everything to God.
He appoints it all for us,
So listen to His wisdom.
His ways are miraculous.
(Based on Ecclesiastes 7:8-10)
We have experienced anger in our nation that is quickly escalating to hatred, foolishness, and wicked intensions. the Bible has many verses concerning anger and their consequences:
- It never unites, rather it divides. “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”(Provers 15:18)
- It gives room for attacks from Satan. “”Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
- It is contagious like a virus.”Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” (Proverbs 22: 24-25)
- God resists those who are angry. “Anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:20
- Anger causes physical illnesses. “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.” Psalm 38:3
- Anger hinders answers to prayer. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. but your iniquities have separated you from your God and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2.
- Anger is not a fruit of the Spirit, but a work of the flesh. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are …outbursts of wrath.” Galatians 5:20
How to battle this war? Concentrate on things above, not on things of the earth. Read scripture, not commentaries for truth. Watch uplifting movies, not the news. Resist too much time on social media and watch church services online. Concentrate on finding peace within and pray for our nation.
