BOILING BLOOD...August 10 Devotion

What do you do when someone cuts you off in traffic?

How do you feel when your children disobey you?

Do your co-workers ever get under your skin?

How do you react to your spouse when they make you late?

Face it... arguments, tension, annoyance, and resentment are all too common. Displays of temper lead to embarrassment. Harsh words can turn people off, possibly even wrecking relationships. Constant complaining and annoying can make marriages intolerable. Explosive tempers can even do worse; they can lead to violence. Anger is not pretty and it is rarely justified.

This week I had an email from a christian friend who had an outburst of anger towards a family member. My friend said some things that were not "Christ-like" and she felt terrible afterwards. She felt like she was "less" of a christian for allowing anger to boil up inside of her.

This week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL reveals to me that my friend is not alone. Anger and frustration is something that we all deal with. When polled this week, "What caused your most recent frustration", the poll revealed...

13% of those polled said that their children or a friend frustrated them recently.

26% voted that their frustration was a result of their spouse.
40% of the readers said that they were frustrated with something other than what was listed.

Many times we are thrust into situations that cause our blood to boil. I have heard people say that they could not help it, that they were provoked to anger. I have many times lost my cool and said and did things that I wish I had not.

I have been studying the book of Proverbs, and have come to the conclusion that anger is the vice behind behaviour and attitudes that display the opposite of love.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-5
"Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs."

Anger is quite the opposite of what Paul is telling us here. Anger is impatient, unkind, envious, boastful, conceited, causes us to act improperly, it is selfish, easily provoked, and anger tends to keep a record of wrongs.

ANGRY is NOT the way we want to act. "I couldn't help it. I was angry." The fact is ...WE CAN HELP IT!

How many times have you gone days without speaking to a friend because of angry words exchanged, only to have forgotten what you were even mad about later?

Have you ever yelled at your children in the heat of the moment? only afterwards, realizing that a firm discipline would have been smarter.

ALLOWING YOUR BLOOD TO BOIL CAN BECOME A HABIT...
Like any other habit, the quick temper must be dealt with. The way to beat the temper habit is to prepare in advance for anger-inducing situations. Read the book of Proverbs and memorize Solomon's wisdom for that upcoming situation that may cause your blood to boil....

* DO RUDE PEOPLE ANNOY YOU?

Practice using a kind word to that person who may insult you.
Memorize Prov. 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

* ARE YOU EASILY SET OFF IN TRAFFIC?

Conquer your anger!
Memorize Prov. 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

* DO YOU FIND YOURSELF IN FREQUENT QUARRELS?

Think of the quarrel as a dam releasing water...stop the flood before it is unstoppable!
Memorize Prov. 17:14 "The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts."

DO YOU ADMIRE SOMEONE WHO SEEMS TO BE INCREDIBLY PATIENT?
Solomon writes in chapter 16 that a patient person is better than a war hero. Controlling temper is just simply being in control of yourself. This may seem difficult to accomplish, but it is possible!

WISDOM (or insight) WILL GIVE YOU PATIENCE.
The wisdom Solomon teaches us is realizing that your anger is harmful to those you love. Solomon also suggests that we learn to prefer others over ourselves.

It is my prayer that you will meditate upon the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs and remember that whether we use gentle or harsh words, our conversation REFLECTS our character.

MAY THE BLOOD THAT RUNS THRU YOUR VEINS AT THAT

"difficult" MOMENT BE THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

Thank you for joining us for this weeks devotion. It is my prayer that your heart was challenged and changed by Gods Word! Thank you for TAKING A STAND with me.


PLEASE VOTE IN THIS WEEKS POLL.... (located on the side bar)
"What benefits do you think would come from an increased amount of humility?" YOUR OPINION MATTERS...thank you for voting!