Calm Down!

Ephesians 4:²⁶ “And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.”

Yesterday, we looked at the first of three things that are crucial in taking bold steps in life which is, Do Not Confuse Outrage With Courage. Most times we think we are being courageous when we are just acting out of rage not realizing that we are actually doing ourselves a disservice. What do you think would have happened if the captain from yesterday’s story had argued with the soldiers at the roadblock? What if one of them was drunk, pulls out his gun, and shoots? What will happen to the man’s captainship? Do not argue with a man with a gun – huge unforgettable lesson! The confusion is that both outrage and courage require bold steps. While outrage stems from indignation, courage stems from inspiration.

Eccl.7:⁹ “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” (KJV). The Bible says anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not be hasty to get angry. Are you are known to be an angry person? If we speak to your domestic staff and their perception of you is a boss who is always angry,there is a problem. I am not saying you should not get upset, the Bible says ‘be angry but do not sin‘. However, the key thing is, you need to control your anger. No one becomes the best that God has created them to be by being angry. In fact, creativity and anger are mutually exclusive, you cannot be angry and be creative at the same time. Prophecy is spiritual creativity that creates from what is not.

In 2 Kings 3, Elisha got so angry that he could not prophesy. They had to bring a minstrel to play, then he had to calm down before he could connect and then prophesy. Your anger is not scaring anyone, have you noticed? Nobody actually gets afraid when you are angry. Check, when you turn your back, they are mocking you. Unfortunately, some people think their anger is their tool, their weapon of offence. It does not help anybody; your anger serves no purpose. Eccl.7:⁹ “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.” (emphasis added). Meaning that when you do not control your temper, you are wearing a badge that everybody else can see but not you, and the badge reads fool. The truth is nobody wants to be labelled as a fool but that is what uncontrolled anger labels you as. You should not be known for your anger.

The Voice translation puts it this way, Eccl.7:⁹ “Do not be quick to anger, for anger sits comfortably in the lap of fools.” Anger is the companion of the fool. Before you walk out on that job, that relationship, your marriage, your country, calm down and control your anger. God will not say control  your anger if you cannot control it. Some people claim that their anger is hereditary, it runs in my family. So, when they get angry, they break things or else the anger will not subside. That simply means there has been a line of foolishness running through your family. And it will come to an end in you in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I give You full control of my emotions – help me, in Jesus Name. Amen!