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Listen while you read: "Abide With Me"1 (Lyrics) |
One day, I was coming from church on a Sunday afternoon and the rain was falling. I tried to stop several taxis, but to no avail. Everyone was trying to find shelter from the rain, and no driver was ready to drive in that weather.
I tried to find cover somewhere, but the rain showed no sign of abating, and I was hungry, as it was a ritual for me not to eat on Sunday mornings. I decided to walk home, but as the rain increased, I became increasingly furious. I was mad at the taxi drivers, at myself, and at fellow members of the church, whose offer to board their vehicle I had refused, believing that I would get a taxi before the rain started falling!
Angry, hungry, and drenched, I began the long journey home. I passed a mentally unstable woman on the street as she cozied up in a little shelter from the rain, eating from the dumpster, and wearing rags. She did something strange — she greeted me. I answered before I realized that someone not mentally okay was speaking to me.
At that moment, the Spirit of God made me understand that I wasn't too different from the woman, because anger is madness and it creates and resonates with madness. She must have felt like she had seen a kindred spirit!
Friends, anger is madness. Solomon said that "anger lodges in the heart of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:9b ESV) An angry man is no different from a mad man, because in the heat of anger there is no thought. An angry man:
- does not see reason;
- does not feel beyond his present overwhelming emotion; and
- takes actions beyond reasoning.
Genesis 49:5,7 – Simeon and Levi are brothers — their swords are weapons of violence. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. (NIV)
This passage shows how thoughtless Simeon and Levi were in their anger. They killed all the men of Shechem (Genesis 34) and incurred a curse on their generation.
Things that could make us angry will surely come. Even the Son of God Himself encountered such things when He was slapped and spat upon at the high priest's house before He was taken to the cross to be crucified, but He kept quiet.
Can we keep quiet in the face of intense provocation? Yes! How?
James 1:19 – So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (NKJV)
That advice is surely the best antidote that the Bible gives for this destroyer of man.
Prayer: Lord, take away the root of anger from my life and put in me the fruit of gentleness, meekness, and long-suffering. Amen.
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 – In Europe — Pray for the Jewish community to be encouraged and feel the love of their non-Jewish Christian friends. Pray that the Holy Spirit would open the hearts and minds of these secular Jews, and for God's leadership in my work.
daughter: "Update December 30, 2024: And please touch her heart that she may turn to YOU.* November 12, 2024:..." 
Thanks for the eye opener.
Thanks for the good advice, John.
I enjoyed your story and prayer. Encouraging. Be blessed.
Well-written is today’s devotional and very practical advice. Thank you.
Thank you, John, for this wise advice and welcome to the PresbyCan family.
Thanks for sharing.
(Canada)
Thank you, John, for today’s devotion.
I enjoyed your points.
(Quebec Canada)
Dear John,
What an interesting thought — that anger is a form of madness. You gave us something to think about and motivation to replace anger with godly thoughts and actions.
John,
I appreciate your illustration drawn from your experience. Good information for us to follow, and I especially like your prayer. Praise God that we have the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us not to be angry.
Thank you for the devotional. It helped me learn more about anger and anger management. Many in our world need to control their anger.
Keep writing and blessing people.
Yours in prayer,
(New Brunswick, Canada)
This is very true John. Anger is only one letter away from danger and has caused many to do things that have caused them a lifetime of regret. And no good comes of it. May we be swift to recognize it within ourselves and even swifter to rebuke it and through the power of the Spirit, calm ourselves down.
Blessings.
I understand!
I am often “hangry”, anger brought on by hunger!
I try to be prepared with a snack in my purse but every now and then I forget…
Thank you for your post!
Blessings.
Greetings John and thank you for your very good devotional today. Yes, anger can rise very quickly in our mind but what good does it do? Nothing! So much better if we stop and think about what is really causing the situation and how we can cope with it rather than retaliating. Reflecting on the fruits of the spirit, as you have mentioned, is a good solution. Blessings for your writing and may you enjoy a pleasant day.
Good morning, John,
I could relate to your feelings of anger and what a senseless emotion it is and how quickly we can feel it. As you point out, it is what we do with this emotion when it arises is important. With help from our Holy Spirit, we can learn to recognize it and act appropriately when it occurs.
Thank you for sharing and reminding us that God is always there to help us when we are in trouble and need some help calming down.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this timely and encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
COVID restrictions have caused a lot of anger – when we respect others, we can understand better reasons behind these rules.
Anger dominates much of the Old Testament. Jesus brought a new message, Love God and your neighbor.
Great write ups you have on the devotionals, Mr. John Oguntoyinbo. May your strength continue to increase from time to time. Amen.