StrongSample

  

Blowing Your Top

Rex Stump

Ready:

“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:20

Set:

Losing your temper seems to be acceptable and trendy in sports. NBA San Antonio’s Coach Gregg Popovich became enraged with the referee’s call. He charged the court and screamed at the veteran official, resulting in a technical foul. Pathetically, the fans gave their coach a standing ovation. From professional sports to elementary, it seems anger issues don’t get better, they get worse. A third grade AAU basketball coach was arrested after deciding to angrily confront and attack a parent on the opposite side of the court. 

Why are we so mad? From the anger at home, which leads to domestic violence, to the anger of our nation protesting any political decision that goes against our opinion, we witness anger. 

On the way home from work, a semi-truck pulled out in front of me. He could have waited and then pulled out, as there was no one behind me for miles. I slammed on the brakes and my anger level started to rise as he only drove 1/8 of a mile and turned. To make matters worse, within seconds another truck just 100 feet down the road decided to do the very same thing! 

I was quickly reminded of a prayer that my nephew texted me just minutes before I got in my vehicle. (See Overtime prayer.) I’m not exempt from anger, neither are you. We need to refrain from anger, turn from wrath—all it does is lead us in the wrong direction. 

Go:

1. What causes you to get angry?

2. When you get angry, how do you react? 

3. Are your actions God-honoring? Do they need to change?

  

Overtime: 

Heavenly Father, please grant me the knowledge of what triggers me to get angry. Grant me protection against Satan’s attempts to lead me to believe that anger is the correct response. Help me to always navigate back to You so that others may be led to do so as well.