God's Promises on Anger

~ The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 145:8
~ ...a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love...Nehemiah 9:17
~ For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
~ My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20
~ Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:9
~ A quick tempered man does foolish things...Proverbs 14:17
~ Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
~ A hot - tempered person starts fights; a cool - tempered person stops them. Proverbs 15:18
~ An angry person starts fights; a hot - tempered person commits all kinds of sin. Proverbs 29: 22
~ Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm. Psalm 37: 8
~ Don't befriend angry people or associate with hot - tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul. Proverbs 22: 24-25
~ A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
~ Father's do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. Colossians 3: 21
~ And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26
~ Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11
~ It is better to live alone in the desert than with a quarrelsome, complaining wife. Proverbs 21:19
~ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone and idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. Matthew 5:22
~ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32
~ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the Lord. Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:19-21
~ If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads, and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22
~ But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Colossians 3:8

Anger is a reaction to an unpleasant situation or event. From the Bible, we see that not all anger is sin (Exodus 32:19; Mark 3:5; Mark 11:15-17; Ephesians 4:26, 27). When you lose your temper, act violently, or store up anger so that it develops into bitterness, resentment, or hostility, you have let your anger cause you to sin. In the short term, unresolved anger affects your spiritual growth and your personal relationships with others. Over the long term, it can actually cripple you emotionally and spiritually, or lead to physical illness.

CONTROLLING YOUR ANGER PLEASES GOD...JAMES 1:19, 20

Uncontrolled anger does not lead to righteousness. When you allow your anger to control you, you are not submitting to the Holy Spirit. God desires that you demonstrate the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which includes longsuffering (patience) and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). Anger is an outward sign that you still need inward transformation to be more like Christ. When you develop the fruit of the Spirit and control your anger, God is pleased.

UNCONTROLLED ANGER IS SIN...PROVERBS 29:22

Uncontrolled anger is sin. It results in bitterness, resentment, and hostilitly. Just as with any other sin, uncontrolled anger affects your spirital growth and your relationship with God. Uncontrolled anger can also lead to physical or emotional damage to other people and to you. If you struggle with uncontrolled anger, God offers forgiveness and help. "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8). Confess your sin to God and pray for His transformation in your heart and mind.

Uncontrolled anger is a response that comes from your former nature and it must be unlearned. "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and ...put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness: (Ephesians 4:22-24).

If you struggle with anger:
~ Renounce your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.
~ Renew your mind as you put on God's righteousness. This affirms your status as " a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

HOPE AND POWER TO OVERCOME...ROMANS 15:13

God wants to replace your anger with His joy and peace. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galations 5:16). Walking in the Spirit includes confession and repentance. Study the Bible on your own and with others. As you study, meditate on verses that help you understnd God's instructions for dealing with anger or other sinful habits. Friendships with other mature Christians will also provide encouragement, prayer support, and accountability. It is impossible to control anger only through your own human efforts. When you desire to please God and seek to grow spiritually, He will renew your mind to produce the fruit of the Spirit and control your anger.

Credited to The Billy Graham Training Center Bible--NKJV