The Lord has taken me to a lot of Scripture about controlling my anger this week. Today I was taken to: “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness” (Prov 14:29). John Gill says one who “understands himself and human nature, has a great command over his passions; which shows him to be a man of great wisdom and understanding”.

When I stop to understand the other person, I’m showing God’s love that He has poured into my heart. I needed to remind myself what God’s love in us looks like. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor 13:4-7)

Patience is the first in the list to showing love, and the Lord took me to that understanding today, because He knows I’m impatient. He has shown me that when I don’t control my anger, I’m not allowing His light and love to shine through me. “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

The second part of today’s verse in NKJV, says “But he who is impulsive exalts folly”. So when I impulsively show a hot temper instead of controlling anger, I let feelings control me instead of following God’s Word. It is foolishness that in that moment I hold my anger in higher regard than God’s wisdom and understanding. Ouch! Not only does “the wrath of man not produce the righteousness of God”, but it exalts my pride above how the Lord tells me to live my life. And it was the pride of Lucifer that got him kicked out of heaven. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov 16:18)

Lord, keep me humble! Thank you for your reminder that I always must be less and You must be more!