Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Anger – Ephesians 4:26-27 – Do Not Give The Devil A Foothold – Growing As Disciples
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)
Your Move
What are you doing? I’m rehearsing my anger. What do you mean by that? I’m thinking about how angry I am. I’m thinking about how deeply I have been hurt. No one should treat me the way I have been treated. It’s just not right. It’s not fair. Who do they think that they are anyhow? Don’t they realize who they are dealing with? I’m a very important person. I deserve to be treated with honor and respect. Wait till I give them a piece of my mind. I will set them straight. They will never treat me with such disrespect again. They will think twice before they ever cross me. Once I’m done with them they will never dare to hurt me again.
Do you feel a lot better since you started rehearsing your anger? What kind of question is that? It’s a question that I would like you to answer. No, I don’t feel better since I started rehearsing my anger. Are you less angry since you started rehearsing your anger? No, of course not. That’s not even my goal. What is your goal? I want to get even. I want to make them pay for what they have done to me. I want revenge. I can see that you are very unhappy now. Will getting even, paying them back and seeking revenge make you happy? I doubt that. Do you want to be happy? Yes, I do.
I thought you said it would make you happy if you were able to know and do my will. I have said that many times before. Do you think it is my will for you to carry your anger from one day into the next? No, I do not. You have said that you want to become like me. That is also true. Was I hurt? Was I wounded? Was I mistreated? Yes, you were hurt, wounded and mistreated. Did I rehearse my anger? Did I think about getting even, paying back or seeking revenge? No you did none of those things. What did I do? Did I carry anger from one day into the next? No, you didn’t carry anger with you from one day into the next. You loved and forgave others even while they were mistreating you. Yes, I did. Did I forgive those who did not deserve to be forgiven? Yes, you forgave even those who didn’t deserve to be forgiven. Did you deserve to be forgiven? No, I did not deserve to be forgiven. Will you make the first move to love and forgive others just as I have loved and forgiven you? Will you let go of your anger? Yes Lord, I will let go of my anger. I will make the first move to love and forgive others just as you have loved and forgiven me. That will be very good.
Lord, I will make the first move. I will let go of my anger. I will not carry my anger with me from one day into another. I will not hold on to my anger and let the devil gain a foothold in my life. I will love and forgive others just as you have loved and forgiven me. Amen
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