If you have a kid, you have probably seen a temper tantrum. The little one gets mad or upset, maybe doesn’t get their way and proceeds to kick, scream, and make a scene. In my house, that is asking for a whoopin’. Not a spanking…a whoopin’. If you from the south, you know all about that.
As I was reading in Ephesians 4 this morning, I got to verses 25-27 and the words of 27 caught my attention:
“And don’t give the devil an opportunity.”
In these verses, Paul was talking about being angry and sinning when we are angry. Basically saying, when we are angry and hold onto it, we are giving the devil an opportunity to set up camp in our lives and we are doing his work for him.
Yikes.
I sure do know a lot of angry folks these days. You don’t have to look far to see a bunch of people that have unresolved anger. Maybe it’s from years ago, or something that happened just last week, but it isn’t hard to spot anger in a person. They have let it fester and grow to become adults that walk around in a constant temper tantrum.
Everything that is said makes them mad.
Everything that is done, they find a problem with it.
Never, ever, ever happy. That’s what unresolved anger does. It weakens our spirit and hardens our heart.
You know anyone like that? Maybe you should share this with them. 😉 Kidding, only kidding.
But, it is our job to evaluate our own life and see where we have unresolved anger and we are allowing the devil an opportunity to creep in and cause destruction in our life. Remember, if you give him an inch he is persistent and will attempt to take a mile. It’s okay to be angry, but in doing so we must be careful on how we handle our anger. I’ve found if I give it to God, he is faithful to heal my heart and keep me from pulling my hair out with both hands. He is no respecter of persons, so He will do the same for you.
Let’s heal ourselves and then help others heal. Where there is unresolved anger, love cannot grow and flourish. Let’s move past the anger that has given opportunity to the enemy and move forward giving God an opportunity to move in our lives in a mighty way!
