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An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22
Way up in northernMinnesotaa small stream barely 40 feet wide and ankle deep begins its slow meandering south. By the time the mighty Mississippi River reaches the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,500 miles and 90 days later it is 200 feet deep and several miles wide!
The mighty Miss has been the subject of many stories throughout history. Some whimsical and romantic, some terrifying and dangerous.
The river is deceptive. Although the surface can look calm and inviting, just below the glass-like appearance is a churning monster that has taken many lives, destroyed homes and farmland and wreaked havoc in its path.
The Mississippi has a lot of similarities to anger. Anger, like theMississippi, can start relatively small. Little things like waking up late can grow as the kids are slow getting ready for school and miss the bus, the car won’t start, you get cut off on the interstate, stuck in traffic and late to work.
Like tributaries add to the Mighty Miss, life circumstances add to the anger. Co-workers fail to pull their weight, the food delivered at lunch isn’t right, and the trip home from work is every bit as frustrating.
By the time you open the front door you are just like the Mighty Miss. On the outside you may look calm and serene. But just below the surface you are ready to lash out at the smallest infraction.
Anger can be most destructive because it lurks below the surface, ready to strike. Like a raging river it destroys everything in its path, completely unconcerned about whether its destruction is of innocent or guilty parties. Anger, when unchecked can cripple us internally by leading to frustration, vindictiveness, bitterness and a critical spirit.
Physically anger can affect us too by leading to ulcers, heart problems and a variety of other maladies. Anger is a relationship buster as well.
So what can we do with anger? First of all, don’t let it grow. Take it to the Lord as soon as you sense anger beginning to grow. Jesus understands what frustration is like, He knows what it is like to be mistreated, misunderstood and wrongfully accused. He sees your attempts to do the right thing, and your failure to accomplish your goals.
Many times anger happens when we lose sight of who we are in Christ. Focusing on his love for us and his understanding of our frustrations is the first step to dealing with the anger issues. Realizing that we are not responsible for the behavior of others releases us to let God be God in the lives of those who disappoint us. Trust in God to do the right thing in his time can go a long ways to defeating anger and it’s destructive results before they happen.
PRAYER: Father God. I confess to you that I’m angry. I’m disappointed with the way life is treating me. I’m frustrated because I can’t seem to accomplish the things I set out to do. I’m tired of being falsely accused and misunderstood. Empower me with your Spirit to squelch feelings of anger before they start. Protect me from allowing my circumstances to affect my attitude. In Jesus name, Amen.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8
What are you holding on to that keeps you from selling out completely for Jesus?
That’s a hard question that frankly none of us really wants to answer because it forces us to look deep within ourselves and evaluate what is really important. It’s easy to give up things we can’t hold on to anyway. You can give up your worldly possessions when they are burned in a fire or blown away by a tornado. You have no choice. They are gone.
But what about the things in life we really cherish. The relationships we’ve been building for years; the retirement package we’ve worked so hard and so wisely to build; the children we’ve raised. When they get taken from you is your attitude one of acceptance or does their loss drive you to despair, anger, bitterness and frustration.
The easy answer to all this (as if there were an ‘easy answer) is to ask yourself if what you are getting in return is better than what you have. The problem with this ‘easy answer’ is that too often we have to wait until all the cards are played out before we know if we are better off than we were before.
The Apostle Paul was, by the standards of his world at the time, destined for fame and glory. He was all the things men in his era would hope to be. Educated, powerful, highly-esteemed. Yet one day on the road toDamascushis life was changed forever. Everything Paul had worked to build was gone in a flash of light.
Later, he writes to the church inPhilippiand says, “Looking back, I now realize that all the things I fought for, all the things I worked so hard to attain, all the things I thought were important and that I couldn’t live without, pale in comparison to knowing Jesus.
Paul compared everything he considered dear to garbage! He looked at what he had then and stood it side-by-side with what he had found in Jesus and all the things that he’d fought so hard for looked like nothing more that a stinking, smelly, rotten pile of trash. Yuk.
So, the question that comes to each of our minds must be this. What are you fighting so hard to keep? When you compare those items to knowing Christ, how do they compare?
It’s easy to answer this question about some things, but what about the ‘good things’ you have? Is your ministry more important than the one you minister for? Is your family more important than the one who created families? Is the money you are fighting so hard to keep more important than the one who ‘owns the cattle on a thousand hills’?
Nothing, absolutely nothing you can think of, or hold in your hand or dream in wildest dreams can compare to knowing Christ and until you are ready to give it all up, you will never experience the freedom he died to give you.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, in my heart you are worth everything to me, but in my actions it’s so easy to put other things in front of you. Empower me with your Spirit to be able to give everything up for you. Amen.
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5
Interesting little word, the word ‘but’. It can be used to signify a change in direction: “I was going to go to the ball game BUT it rained so I went shopping instead.
It can be used to describe actions that seem contrary, “He wanted to speak up, BUT he was afraid”.
But can be used to signify actions that may seem heroic and strong, “He could have died BUT he went in after the young boy anyway.”
But can describe an attitude of heart, of commitment and of being resigned to a particular action, thought or emotion as well.
In Psalm 13 David vividly expresses the emotions of a man who is stressed out, under attack and questioning God. When will this end? When will you deliver me? When will my enemies be defeated? When will I finally get a decent night’s sleep? When will I finally have enough money at the end of the month? When will my son/daughter get their life straightened out? When…?
In the midst of the storm, when there really is no indication of relief, when the noise of rockets and bombs is still heard, and defeat seems imminent, David comes to a decision.
“But I trust in your unfailing love…”.
Ultimately, David’s trust in God was based on the favor God bestowed on him spiritually even though it wasn’t recognizable in his physical circumstances. The things that were most troubling to him were superficial regardless of the struggle they brought into his life. None of them would ever take away the favor God bestowed on him. The bestowing of God’s favor has never guaranteed we would be without turmoil, in fact, the opposite is true.
As he contemplated his situation, David realized that none of his trouble took away the friendship he had with God. True friendship is shown to be strongest in the midst of the battle because a true friend will fight for you when he can, but stand by you regardless of the situation.
In the midst of enemy attack, David remembered that while the enemy could take away everything he held dear, including his life, the enemy would never be able to steal the promises God had for him. Promises of salvation, grace, mercy and eternal love. Those were things the Psalmist could rely in regardless of circumstance.
Regardless of what you are in the midst of today, remember these two things. You will go through trying times in which there seems no way out. Those times may be at the hands of others or the result of your own decisions. Whatever those struggles are, you can come boldly to the throne of grace and talk to your Father about the situation.
Secondly, as the Psalmist says in the midst of his struggle, you can trust your loving Heavenly Father to deliver you in his time. Nothing can take you from his arms.
PRAYER: Lord as the storm rages around me, thank you that I can stand firm in the fact that your love, your friendship; your promises will never be taken from me. Help me to rest in these promises as I endure the pain. Amen.
As he says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”Romans 9:25 (NIV)
“I can’t love them after what they did to me. This was too much. How can I love someone I can’t trust anymore? I can forgive anything, but infidelity? Not this time. It’s over”
These words are said time and time again. Not word for word of course but in essence one of the hardest things to forgive is when someone cheats us, lies to us or breaks a vow to us. It attacks the very foundation of any relationship.
That’s why grace is so amazing to me. None of us would find it easy to love someone who we knew to be unfaithful. In fact few are able to do that. Yet that is exactly what God did for us.
The prophet Hosea was called by God to bring the word of restoration toIsrael. God often used life examples to bring others to himself. The Old Testament prophets were known to do some pretty outlandish things to draw attention to them so that they could draw attention to the message God had for them.
Hosea was no exception. Hosea was married to a woman who left him to openly live with other men. God sent him to find her and bring her back to him as his beloved. A tall order for anyone in any time, to love someone who you know will scoff at that love and go back to a life of adultery.
The family life of Hosea is a startling reminder to us that God’s relationship with us is based on his love for us and not on our ability to ‘love him back’. He knew when he chose us that we’d fail him, but he loved us anyway.
Human love can’t comprehend that. Our concept of love is built on the ability of the loved one to be able to return that love to the giver of love. We, in our human condition are unable to do that. But, as the Apostle Paul writes, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” The free gift of salvation is given us with full knowledge what we are unable to return that love and are completely undeserving of it.
Regardless of where you are in life, no matter how many times you’ve failed him. Your Father loves you and wants you to return to him.
PRAYER: Father there are so many times I’ve failed you. So many times I’ve sought after other gods, other things to satisfy this longing in my soul. Forgive me for my waywardness. Thank you for your unselfish love for me in spite of my ability to return that love. Amen.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
I was only about six years old. We were living at a cabin for the summer and I enjoyed having the lake and summer friends to play with. I particularly enjoyed the boat trips across the lake to my grandfathers’ cabin. Much as I loved that summer, there was one incident that stays solid in my mind. I loved the boat rides and I loved playing in the water as long as I could touch bottom. If I couldn’t touch bottom I was terrified because I couldn’t swim.
One day a friend of mine and I were playing in the water and around an old row boat on shore. We pulled the boat out far enough to float on it and play around it. In the course of our play I somehow ended up in the boat and out farther than I wanted to be. My friend lost his grip on the boat and I was suddenly ‘free floating’ with no oars, no life-jacket and no adult within sight. I panicked! I was sure I was going to drown and screamed for help. In the midst of my fear my older brother came running and walked out into the water to rescue me. Turns out that even though I thought I was over my head, I wasn’t. I just couldn’t see the bottom.
Fear plays strange games with us and we live in a society that mocks fear and praises the ‘heroes of our lives’ that baulk at fear and act courageously in dangerous situations. Even religion glorifies bravery and ridicules fear. Ever heard a positive sermon on the terrified disciples in the storm? Most likely, not. We focus on Jesus’ rebuke of the wind and storm.
Fear can have a positive effect on our lives. We should never discount fear as an improper emotion in the life of a Christ-follower. The truth of that fact is illustrated in the book of Psalms and elsewhere. David says ‘When I’m afraid’ not ‘IF I’m afraid.’ Although he prayed and trusted God, you can’t tell me there wasn’t some fear in the heart of Daniel when he was lowered into the Lion’s Den; or in Moses as he walked into Pharaoh’s palace; or in Isaac as he lay on the altar while his father approached him with the butcher knife from the kitchen. Fear is real!
Fear isn’t the issue though; it’s what we do with the fear in our lives that counts. Fear can force us to rely closer on God or drive us to our own resources. The question isn’t if it’s okay to be afraid, the question is who (or what) do I turn to when I’m afraid.
Fear can cause us to move forward cautiously. Fear of broken relationships with God or others can keep us from sin. Fear can help us grow wiser as we carefully look at the possible consequences and outcomes of each situation.
Don’t let the fear in your life keep you defeated. Use it to grow closer to God, stronger in faith and more powerful in the Spirit!
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you that you understand my fears. I pray that you would enable me to use the fears I have to grow closer to you, to walk wisely and to live victoriously. Thank you that during the biggest times of fear in my life I can trust you to see me through. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 