Angry

Dear Lord,

I’m angry, outraged, and I want to use my words to punch someone hard.

If I’m the one in the right and my opponent is in the wrong, how can I justify stupidity or unjust opposition?

I hear Your silence, so I humble myself before You. As I do, I feel Your quiet. You, the God of truth and justice, will help me to stand strong without sinning.

Help me not to let my anger tempt me to engage in foolish and stupid arguments that lead to quarrels. Give me the strength to be kind, to be patient, and even to suffer wrongs when I stand up for You.

Show me how to be gentle when I correct those who misunderstand or oppose the truth so that my example attracts my opponents to You.

Because You love me, teach me how to lay down my pride so that I can be humble, gentle, and patient. Remind me to invite Your presence into every situation.

I push my pride aside and extend an invitation to You and Your amazing love to join me in this conflict now. Help me to be kind and to choose my words carefully, never in haste. Show me how to be slow to become angry so that I can achieve Your righteous purpose.

Give me the ability to love with Your love.

In the name of Jesus, amen.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

Ephesians 4:26 KJV

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. You know they cause quarrels. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be a good teacher. He must be willing to suffer wrong. He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.

2 Timothy 2:23–25 GW

Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love.

Ephesians 4:2 VOICE

Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.

James 1:19–20 GNT