Patient Parenting: Overcoming Anger in Your HomeSample

Day 2: Anger is Your Foe

You feel terrible. You've blown it again. You woke up with the best intentions this morning, but you've already lost it with your children, and the morning isn't even over.

"What is wrong with me?" you think.

It is easy for Christians to get caught up in this sin-confess-sin-confess cycle. You know something is wrong and immediately confess it to the Lord afterward. But nothing seems to change.

This is not the way that God intends it. By the power of the Spirit, we can change. We can become more patient, defeating anger.

One thing that might be missing from our perspective is seeing anger as a deadly foe to fight and kill.

In this lesson, we will pull back the cesspool cover of our hearts and look at how horrible anger is. The goal is not to depress you. Rather, the hope is for you to look this monster in the eye, seeing it the way God sees it so that you resolve to fight it.

What does Scripture teach about anger?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands and deepens the commandment prohibiting murder. "Thou shalt not murder" not only prohibits murder but sinful anger as well. That rage is actually miniature murder. It is the same sin family. And because of that, it is worthy of God's judgment.

This fact alone causes us to run to Jesus for the forgiveness of sin he provides on the cross. Realizing sinful anger is baby murder toward my child will stop me in my tracks. I need to get serious about this sin!

Second, in the book of James, God tells us that sinful anger does not accomplish what we want to accomplish. That's often a reason we get upset at our children, right?

They are disobeying or fighting with their siblings. You want it to stop, so you raise your voice. And they stop. At that moment, you are tempted to think anger works. The truth is, while it might stop the chaos in the moment, it is also sowing seeds of discord and disrespect. Our sinfulness does not accomplish the righteousness that God desires.

Third, my sinful anger makes me a fool. That's pretty harsh, but it is precisely what Proverbs says. While the world's psychology would tell us that it is good to vent our anger, God says the exact opposite. When we vent our anger, we are foolish. A wise parent can keep themselves under control.

Those three truths are just a few biblical reasons that anger is a deadly foe to fight. But don't leave this lesson discouraged. For every one look at our sin, we need to take ten looks at the love and forgiveness of Christ. In addition, you can put sin to death by the power of the Spirit. He can and will strengthen us to fight the monster of sinful anger.

Prayer:

O Father, I have felt guilt and shame about this part of my life for too long. But I have never focused my attention on it as a deadly cancer to destroy. It has injured my precious children, and I desire to repent. From this day forward, may I aggressively fight it. By the power of your Spirit, give me strength to overcome this foe. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.