I have to confess… I deal with anger and bitterness on an almost daily basis. I don’t like it. I try to stop being angry and then something, that I don’t like at all, is done by others, and the embers are sparked once more.

When you are dealing with something like this, and praying to stop, you suddenly get a week of reminders of why you are not supposed to stay angry. And so it has been with me this past week.

It started with my Bible Study that I attend on Thursdays. We studied Psalm 37 this past week. It begins with these words:

“Fret not yourself because of evildoers…” (ESV)

In verse 7 of that Psalm it tells you exactly what to do instead. I am going to quote it from the NLT version because it’s very easy to understand:

“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.” (Psalm 37:7-10 NLT)

Then I had my Sunday School Lesson to read for the week. It was based on Colossians chapter 3. And of course it continued with the anger theme. (I’m getting the message! 🤪 )

“But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” (Colossians 3:8-10 NLT)

Colossians 3 tells us to take off and get rid of anger… and instead of being angry…put on the following:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Gentleness
• Patience (Verse 12)

Now I don’t know about you, but if I’m angry at something or someone, I have a real struggle with putting on any of those attributes listed above.

But my Sunday School lesson didn’t leave me without an answer to that problem.

The whole lesson was about how we are to worship God by how we live daily.

The lesson’s main point states: “Everything we do in life is to be an act of worship.” (From: Bible Studies For Life/ Senior Adults/ Personal Study Guide/ Winter 2024-25/ CSB, p.140.)

The lesson continues…

“A genuine worshiper of Christ will set his or her mind on Christ and live in a way that reflects Christ’s life within….The idea that a believer could worship Jesus yet live a life of selfish indulgence and immorality was counter to the gospel Paul had preached….Paul added specifics: Sexual sin and impure attitudes, which amount to idolatry (the worship of any other god), won’t be the thought pattern of the true worshiper of Jesus….Instead, the true worshiper—whose mind is set on Jesus—will consistently and willfully put wrong thinking out of his or her mind, day after day in simple acts of worship through obedience…..a greater love for Jesus will displace the lesser loves of sin in the life of the believer whose mind is set on Jesus.” (p.141)

It is so amazing to me how God gives you the answers you seek when you realize you are struggling in an area and need His help to overcome.

The main takeaway for me is that it has to be done “willfully”.

Definition of willfully from the online King James Bible: “to act obstinately, stubbornly, or perversely, or to do something by design or with set purpose.”

Hebrews 10:1 says, “If we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”

The first part of the definition of willfully addresses the … sinning “willfully”… of Hebrews 10:1. We choose to “obstinately, stubbornly, or perversely,” do the wrong thing.

The second part of the definition tells us how to overcome the sin of anger— by doing “something by design or with set purpose.” We have to purpose not to get angry. (just like, “…Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, or with the wine which he drank:” see Daniel 1:8 KJV)

Will, purpose, determine, decide, choose, resolve, elect, control — our hearts — to not be angry.

And we have to…

• “not fret”

• “be still in the presence of the Lord”

• “wait patiently for Him to act”

• not “worry about evil people who prosper”

• not “fret about their wicked schemes” (see Psalm 37)

Because…

• “For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.” (Psalm 37:17 NLT)
• “The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalm 37:23 NLT)
• “For the LORD loves justice, and He will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever,” (Psalm 37:28a NLT)
• “I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!” (Psalm 37:35-36 NLT)

So I guess after all that… there arises this question: What do we have to be angry about?

God is taking care of us. He says so in His Word.

For Him to do that… we have to be “godly” because that is who He says He takes care of. So beyond becoming “godly” or righteous through salvation, we also have to willfully put a check on our hearts to stop being angry and just do it!!!

WILLFULLY…

“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.” (Psalm 37:8)

Comment below on what helps you control your anger?