1.
Don’t interpret everything as a personal offense, oversight, or hurt. At the
same time, try to pinpoint the things that cause you to become excessively
angry.
2.
Make your attitudes and responses a matter for serious prayer. Pray also about
the irritating behavior of others that has caused your anger. Remember
that God uses people and circumstances to refine our character.
We may have many rough edges that need to be filed down!
3.
Regularly confess excessive anger as sin: “Do not let the sun go down while
you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). Learn to balance the books
at least by the end of each day.
4.
Realize that the Christian must learn to cope with two natures, each striving
for supremacy. We must learn to practice the “put off—put on” principle
of Ephesians 4:22 –24:
A. “Put
off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires”
(verse 22).
B. “Put
on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”
(verse 24).
C.
The effect of practicing the “put off—put on” principle is to “be made
new in the attitude of your minds” ( 2 Corinthians 5:17).
5.
Strive to focus your anger away from yourself, to the problems that are causing
it.
6.
Surrender each day to the Holy Spirit: “Live by the Spirit, and you will not
gratify the desires of the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:16).
7.
Let the Word of God permeate your life as you read, study, and memorize
it: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish
one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).
Be wise today and always - live by the Spirit not your Self.
