Ask Forgiveness

Every time you lose emotional control, go tell the one you have offended, "I´m sorry. Will you forgive me? I want to do better than this." It won´t take many times of humbling yourself this way until you will be controlling your anger before it explodes all over those you love. They deserve that, and so do you.

Ephes. 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ´s sake hath forgiven you."

Anger Can Make You Sick

While you don´t want to lose control and "fly off the handle," keeping anger inside can be done only so long before it affects even your health. It has to be dealt with, and hopefully, before it explodes. You may need to confront the person you are angry with. Remember, whether the other party repents of his wrong or not, you will benefit by knowing you did the right thing. Matthew 18:15-17 gives the order of steps to take when confronting another.

Ephes. 4:26, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place (opportunity) to the devil."

Anger May Kill You

Anger can cause serious physical problems, in addition to the damage it does psychologically. When in a rage, a person´s blood pressure goes up; his neck veins swell. Anger affects respiration, the heart, nervous system and muscles. Anger can kill! Learn to to control anger. It´s not only an emotional and health issue, it´s also a spiritual issue.

Proverbs 19:19, "A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment...."

Roots of Bitterness

Whoever angers you controls you. When you don´t deal with anger in a timely manner, it turns into other negative emotions like resentment, bitterness, hate. Take action to stop the cycle before the roots are so deep they are almost impossible to destroy. As Barney Fife would say, "Nip it! Nip it! Nip it!"

Hebrews 12:15, "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled."

Timely Anger

Anger can be a timely, useful tool. For example, if a poisonous snake is about to strike a small child, his father would be motivated by anger to quickly kill the snake and protect his child´s life. God gives us the "fight or flight" instinct to produce the adrenaline we need in crisis situations.

Isaiah 7:15b, "…know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."

Once More, Please!

Sometimes anger can be humorous. When we were teens, my friend and I would double-date, then sleepover at one of our homes. One night she was still stewing over a spat she´d had with her boyfriend. "You know something," she snarled, "The madder I lay here the longer I get!" After I could quit laughing long enough to tell her what she´d said, we both cracked up. Later, I asked what it was she was so mad about. She couldn´t remember! Try to find humor in emotional situations. You´ll feel a whole lot better! --Louise

Anger Multiplies Itself

Uncontrolled anger begets more anger. Road rage, for example. The explosive emotion of anger is like the valve on a pressure cooker. When it "pops its cork," it spews all over everyone in its way. An angry person doesn´t think objectively. Work toward staying calm when another is venting his anger until he has cooled off. Then, if possible, deal with the real problem.

Proverbs 19:11, "The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression."

Outside Help Needed

It´s been said that bitterness is the only element that consumes its own container. If you feel your anger is out of control, or you are shoving it back down inside to the point you have thoughts of doing something destructive, such as suicide or hurting someone, it´s time and past time to get help. Consult your minister, a Christian counselor, or a mental health professional who can help you deal with anger control. Your life CAN be better. Go for it!

Romans 12:21, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

Modulate Your Voice

Research has proven that when a person is shouted at, he usually shouts back. With a little forethought, patience and practice, you can calm an angry person with your tone of voice.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." King Solomon, Proverbs 15:1

One-Liners on Anger

Tidbits on Anger:

* "He that would be angry and sin not, must not be angry with anything but sin." -- Unknown

* "Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." -- Unknown

* "Don´t go to pieces if you burn the toast. Some day your house may burn down and you can take that calmly, too." -- Apples of Gold

Before You Speak...

Wisdom on Anger:

* "Gran´pa, how´s come you git along wi´ folks so good?" asked a young backwoods lad. "Well, I´ll tells ye," answered his old mountaineer grandfather, "I´se allus mighty careful to stop and taste mah words ´fore I lets ´em pass mah teeth!"

* Billy Sunday had just finished a sermon when a woman came up to him and admitted she had a bad temper, but that her anger was always over in a minute. Sunday replied, "So is a shotgun blast, but it blows everything to pieces."

The Serenity Prayer

Some things you will never be able to change. You can´t take back angry words that have been spoken, but you can begin now to use sweeter words, especially to those you love. I love the Serenity Prayer below, which expresses great wisdom not only concerning anger, but many other things as well.

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference." -- The Serenity Prayer

Anger Causes Suffering

We´ve all heard of people who became violently angry and in the midst of it had a heart attack or stroke. Not only does the angry person suffer for his or her anger, those around him do, too. It doesn´t have to be that way! Seek counseling or whatever you have to do to take care of your anger before it ignites into a raging fire that can´t be stopped.

Proverbs 26:20, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth."

More One-Liners on Anger

Wisdom on Anger:

* "Anger is nothing more than a sophisticated version of a temper tantrum." -- Dr. David Jeremiah

* "Swallowing angry words before you say them is better than having to eat them afterwards." -- Unknown

* "I wouldn´t give two cents for a man without a temper, and I´d give even less for one who can´t control it." -- Rev. Boyd Dickey

Short Wits on Anger

Words to Live By:

* "Remember, the end never justifies the meanness." -- Unknown

* "Tact is the ability to close your mouth before someone else wants to." -- Unknown

* "For every minute you´re angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness." -- Unknown

Focused Anger

Focused anger finds ways to correct wrong for the good of ourselves and others. The organization MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is an example of what can be done with good anger that is focused. When you find yourself becoming angry, try to think of ways your anger can be channeled for good.

Isaiah 5:20, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil...."

Making Tea

"He makes me so mad!" Does he? Pouring hot water over a tea bag doesn´t make tea. The tea is already there. The hot water just brings out its strong flavor. Hot-water situations can´t bring anger out of you unless it´s already there. While you can´t control another´s actions, you do have a choice in your emotional reactions. Be better prepared by imagining generic situations involving anger and decide beforehand how you will react to them.

Luke 6:45, "...of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."

Anger Can Be Good

Anger -- is it always wrong? No. Some anger is good. Good anger is motivated by unselfishness and is directed against the abuse of what is right -- justice, compassion, love. Anger which motivates a person to strive toward good, like getting laws changed to stop child abuse, is good anger. A wise person will be able to discern the difference.

Romans 12:9b, "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."

More Short Wits

Words to the Wise on Anger:

* "Anger is like wet cement, easy to get out of before it sets up. When it´s hardened, it´s almost impossible." -- Unknown

* "An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason." -- Unknown