From today’s One Year Bible reading–Psalm 4:4 “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Paul references this in Eph. 4:26-27 and follows with, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

A good reminder for the new year.  After all, anger happens.  What will I do when anger arises and the stewing thoughts persist?

1) Determine what is within my control to change and what is not.

2) Change what I can change and let go of what I cannot change.  (Often I want the situation or other person to change.  Instead, God shows me how I need to change.  While frustrating and painful at times, this mindset and approach protects me from becoming the victim and playing the “blame game.”)

3) If an individual is involved, I will pursue healthy conflict resolution.  Jesus told the disciples that even if someone else was angry with them, they should leave their gifts at the altar and go make things right.

4) Whether relational reconciliation is possible or not, I am called to forgive and release. Many times forgiveness is an act before it is a feeling.  I will choose to forgive even when I’m not “feeling the love.”

5) The Word says we overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb.  First, I declare that the offense which caused my anger is under the blood of Jesus.  Second, I testify that I, too, am under the blood of Jesus and the lordship of Jesus.  Anger is not in charge of me.  Anger is not my lord!  Jesus, alone, is my Lord!  I will not yield my heart to anger, but to his Lordship alone.

6) Now I will replace angry thinking with thankful thinking.  Through an act of my will empowered by the Holy Spirit, I determine to have each recurring, negative, angry thought become a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.

7) Finally, I will repeat each of the above in the power of the Holy Spirit as often as needed in order to overcome anger and prevent Satan from getting a foothold.  I will not quit after one attempt, or two attempts, or even two hundred twenty-two attempts.  Perseverance, discipline and diligence will be necessary to develop new mindsets and habits.  I will be transformed by appropriating God’s Word in my life and surrendering moment by moment to the Holy Spirit.