Mom's Writings--Forsaking Anger.

Ephesians 4:30-32  And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live.  Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

vs 30  do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
vs 31  let all bitterness, wrath, anger, lour quarreling and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
vs 32  be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

A righteous life has no room for lingering anger.  Recognize anger is there as in vs 31.  If you are angry, admit it, identify the source.

Consider these questions:

Why am I angry?
At whom am I angry?
What caused me to feel/act this way?
When or where did this feeling start?

Once we know the source of our anger its time to forgive, no matter what. Forsaking anger means we are walking in His will.

From me:

A few things that stuck out at me in these last couple of writings of my Mom. Yesterday she mentioned not to let anger dictate how we treat people.  Lord, how often does my anger come out in my tone and body language?  It's not just the words I say. (Oh my! I hear my Mom's voice here and I am not happy LOL)  

A righteous life has no room for lingering anger.  How true.  How can I be salt and light if I am angry?  How do I share a Gospel of peace if discord and strife are filling my heart and mind?  I must forsake these.  Holding on to anger, hugging it to myself as my right, is a luxury I cannot afford if I hope to lead others to Christ.  I cannot serve anger and the kingdom.

Getting rid of this anger in my life will take a herculean effort empowered by the Holy Spirit.  It is not of myself.  Sometimes it seems anger and annoyance take over before I even know what's happening.  Suddenly I am down a road I didn't even see the street sign for.  And maybe those street signs, when noticed are God visits in their own right.  They are His warnings about going to a place He does not wish us to travel to, let alone live in.

Can you picture a street with a house on it?  That house is anger, walls of bitterness, floors of resentment hold up the house. Perhaps pride is the foundation, self-righteousness the roof.  The decor is broken down and tattered because it's all been shattered by hatred and unforgiveness.  But as we live there we don't see the brokenness, because we hold on to our justification for this anger.  That is our filter and so we are blind.  I am saddened by this house.  It is a lonely place.  A heart broken place.  It is devoid of joy and laughter.

But the sun still shines on this house,  the light of God still reaches it.  We need only to let up the shades to let in this healing light.  But that is a choice.  Do I keep the curtains drawn, the windows closed keeping out the freshness and light that could renovate, redeem this house?

Lord, let me live in the light.  Let me life up the shades and let Your light shine into the darkest reaches of my house, my soul.  Heal the broken places, the places of pride that keep me from being the instrument of peace You desire to use to reach out to the other houses on my street.  Remind of those questions Mom penned in her journal, and remind me of the Cross where Jesus took all that anger upon Himself and offered me His forgiveness.