Your anger is doing damage

yinka ogunlami

April 7, 2016 8:39 AM

“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

'Don't Look Back'

Memory Verse:Ecclesiastes 7:9 - “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

The Word for Today devotional by United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) says:

Angry outbursts are destructive in all relationships, especially in your home. Children are the most vulnerable to parental anger, and they mirror their parents’ behaviour.

We shape our children’s destiny by our words, behaviours, and attitudes, and if they are raised in a home that is consistently high-volume, they will react similarly. Your actions are training your children to be hysterical and violent.

Soon everyone will be overreacting, flying into fits of rage, and attacking one another. When you exhibit tantrum-like behaviour you are acting out of a selfish need to get what you want, when you want it, in the way you think you ought to have it.

Please - for your family’s sake - start acting like an adult; exhibit self-control. ‘Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises’ (Hebrews 6:12 NKJV). Notice, you must have faith and patience.

You may not be able to control what happens in life, but you can certainly control your reaction. Whether it is the anger a father brings home from the workplace, or a wife’s anger towards her husband, it can bring a curse.

Simeon and Levi harboured anger in their hearts and became vicious and vindictive murderers. Because of this, a curse came upon them, and the anger was passed down from generation to generation (see Genesis 49).

You must break the curse by resisting the temptation to let anger dictate your behaviour. In the words of James: ‘My dear brothers, take note … Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires’ (James 1:19-20 NIV 1984 Edition).

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