Proverbs 14:29 (TLB) 29 A wise man controls his temper. He knows that anger causes mistakes.
Proverbs 14:29 (VOICE) 29 Whoever is patient and slow to anger shows great understanding, but whoever has a quick temper magnifies his foolishness.
I'm realizing how quickly I can dig a hole for myself with my words, whether they are "justified" or not, sometimes they are just not necessary. Jumping off of my emotions doesn't even allow myself time to fully understand the entire situation itself...then I've said or done some things that I can't take back. The MSG version says; 29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity. This version stuck out to me because sometimes after allowing anger or irritation to spew from my mouth, that is what I’m thinking to myself; that was just wrong and STUPID.
It’s so easy to become angry or irritated and before we realize it we are saying the first thing that comes to our mind as a response. I don't know my bible from front to back but, I don't think it says that we are to say everything that comes to our mind; even if it is true and especially if it's going to cause dissention or hurt. True enough we may very well be right, or what we would call justified in our anger and possibly even what we say however, what good is it to just blurt it out and act in the moment...most times none! Before we know it many hurtful things are said that can’t be taken back and sometimes even relationship are destroyed as a result.
We also need to consider the fact that maybe who ever we are getting irritated or angry with, may possible just be having a bad day…I mean, we all do. I’ll be the first to admit that some days are just not the best for me and I’m acting off of my emotions; sounding and looking like a real pain in the butt. Next thing I know, the person I’m being difficult with says some not so nice things back. Soon more and more anger is being built between us as well as more and more foolish words and actions; before too long many hurtful things are said.
Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Whether we’re the one in the wrong or the other person is; the real point is that we can only control ourselves; our own actions and our own words. Truly, our reactions to what is going on or what someone is doing can be just as damaging as the original act itself. So we need to learn to sometimes keep quiet or at the very least pray about it before we just lash out. Whether it’s a bad day or, in my personal opinion, something just isn’t right; there are many things I wish I could control, change and even fix but, the truth of the matter is I can't.
So today I am truly praying that God will help me to control my emotions; whether in actions or words. I am trusting God to transform my mind to help me think before I speak and act and also to be uplifting and encouraging as much as I possibly can. My prayer is that I will not only learn to control my own emotions, but that I will learn to accept some things as they are. I don’t mean to allow “wrong” to happen to me or what I inflict on others but, instead that I will understand that I can only control what I can and that I have to allow God to take care of the rest.
This post has challenged me because at work I get so angry with my customers. I have a tendency to not include them in my Christian walk as though I do not have to bring glory to God at work because it is in the world...which ALL THE MORE reason to be Christlike. Thanks for this confrontation of conviction with watching my words.
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