Karen grew up having a bad temper and the smallest thing would set her off. She learned her behavior from her mother who was known in the community for being violent. Karen often got into fights in school and was very confrontational over the pettiest things. One day Karen got into a fight and really hurt someone, she was arrested, and spent a few weeks in jail until she was able to post bail. Her jail experience is where she found a book called “Doing his time”. This book was full of God’s word and was an eye opener that Karen needed to turn her life around. While she was alone in her jail cell, she opened up her heart and cried out to God. God filled her with his love and his spirit. While she was in jail, there were a few tests that Karen had to face. With God’s strength Karen was able to overcome her anger issues. Karen today is transformed by God’s grace and one of the meekest people you could ever meet.
Do you struggle with anger and have a difficult time controlling it? Did you learn anger from your parents like Karen did? God can change anyone and make them into a new creature in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Anger can be overcome by putting on love (Christ) and putting on the fruits of the spirit. How do you put on love? Romans 13:14, says” But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Galatians 5:22-23 says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Ask God to give you the fruits of the spirits on a daily basis.
What did Karen read in God’s word that she made such a radical change in her behavior? After she read the following scriptures her heart felt conviction from the Holy Spirit. Every day and night she would mediate on these scriptures until they became embedded in her heart.
Proverbs 14:29: He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsiveexalts folly.
Psalms 37:8: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.
Ephesians 4:26: “Be angry, and do not sin.” do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Ecclesiastes 7:9: Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Heavenly Father, I come boldly to your throne. Philippians 2 says your name is higher than all names and that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. God, I confess that I have anger issues. I repent of my sins. James 1:20 says, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” I will walk in obedience. I will follow what Ephesians 4:31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander are put away from me, along with all malice.”
1 Corinthians 10:13 says that no temptation will overtake me because God is faithful and you will make a way of escape. In you Lord, I can overcome anger because Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. I will be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Anger and wrath is far from me! Today I walk in love because love conquers all. Lord, give me strength over my emotions and I will follow after the Spirit and not my flesh.
I decree and declare that I am the righteousness of God. Mountain of strife, bitterness, and anger I command you to go and leave me NOW in Jesus name! Spirit of anger, my God will make you his footstool as he did for David in Psalm 110. I have victory wherever I go and since I am a child of the most high God I will not let anger defeat me! I plead the blood of Jesus on my mind and my emotions. In Jesus name Amen.