Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

ANGER ABANDONMENT

This entry was posted on 10-26-2009 and is filed under ANGER.

"Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry for anger rests in the bosom of fools" (Ecc. 7:9 NKJV).

I don't want to be a fool, do you? I didn't think so. Then you will want to join me for the next few days as we study what I call "Anger Abandonment." You will notice that I do not call it "Anger Management" because I believe nearly all attempts at that are doomed to failure. I do believe it is a worthier goal to seek "Anger Abandonment."

An angry person is not a pretty sight. His face turns red, his neck veins bulge, his jaws clench, his teeth grind, his lips become thin red lines, his tongue fires off missiles of malice, and his squinting eyes shoot forth daggers of hate. Dr. S. I. McMillen (None of These Diseases: The Bible's Health Secrets for the 21st Century, Baker, 2000) talks about what happens when your body goes on "red alert." Anger places every cell in your body on red alert. Your stomach churns out acid. Your skin hairs stand upright. Your adrenal glands pour out adrenaline and steroids. You pupils dilate. Your blood pressure shoots up. Your pulse races. You are ready to run or gun.

None of this is good for you. McMillen says, Years of living on the angry edge can kill you. I want to help you get an edge on life. Not only this life but the life to come. Anger will not achieve either kind of life. Stay with me for a few days as we discuss the principles of "Anger Abandonment."*

*This will be condensed from my forthcoming article "Red Alert! Getting Rid of Anger" (The Lookout, Nov. 8, 2009).

Prayer: God of patience, help me to live a calm and peaceful life. Empower me to follow Your instruction and lay aside ALL anger. Through Christ I pray.