HELEN SANDERS
6-24-2021
SHORT TERM ANGER

One of the greatest weapons Satan uses to control Christians are offenses. They could cause someone to do things that they wouldn’t normally do if they thought it through. Offenses will come, but what we do with them can literally control our destiny.

I believe that this saying is so important. Don’t make long term decisions in short term anger. I have seen families destroyed because of an offense that caused anger and then they chose the wrong reaction.

All you have to do is read the newspaper or watch the news (which I rarely do) and you will see stories of someone shooting someone for taking their parking place, or for bumping into them or a hundred other short term anger offenses.

Anger is not a fruit of the spirit. In Ephesians 4:32 it says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” Paul is speaking to Christians here, not non-believers. We are told in James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

The prisons are full of people that had short term anger that resulted in long term decisions. Every day they are faced with what they did. I am sure in many cases there is great regret. Yes, God can forgive them, but they still have to “serve their time” for their poor choices.

How is your “anger” thermometer? Is it hot? If so, then ask the Lord to help you control it. We can be certain that he will. Again, I remind you, don’t make long term decisions with short term anger.