James 1:19-26 "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
"Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry...", how often do we fail to do any of this. We usually are just the opposite on all counts. In this passage we see that the anger we hold on to can directly hinder our relationship with God. We also see that God calls us to action, merely knowing or being aware is not enough. Take time to look at the source of your anger - a sense of injustice? a past wrong? or just frustration? Forgiveness and letting go of our anger is not easy, but it is exactly what God has called us to do, turn it over to him and let his peace and joy fill your life.
For more information: http://batteredwarrior.typepad.com/forgiving/2009/05/are-you-angry.html
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