Fast From Wrong ThinkingSample

DAY 31 — “I Feel Angry”

Today, we are fasting from anger—thoughts like, “I feel angry,” or, “They make me so mad.”

Anger is a powerful emotion that obviously can hurt ourselves and others. It leads to bad decisions, damaged relationships, stress, and physical sickness.

LET’S CHANGE IT TODAY

1. Discover the power within you. Remember, anger comes from a sense of powerlessness. When we feel powerless to change something, we get afraid, leading us to anger. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind." Meditate on this verse. You have power.

2. Listen quickly and speak slowly. James 1:19 says, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, then the result is that you will be slow to anger!” Follow this simple pattern, and anger will lose its grip.

3. Realize that anger does not work. It doesn’t produce or achieve anything. James 1:20 says, “For the anger of man does not achieve (work, produce) the righteousness of God.” If you had an employee that didn’t work, produce, or achieve, you would fire them, right? Fire your anger from your life. It doesn’t achieve anything.

4. Deal with unresolved conflict today! Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Make peace with whomever you have something against today. Don’t let it fester. You’ll be amazed at how much less you will feel angry.

5. It’s OK to feel anger, but direct it the right way—towards the devil. Notice, the next verse goes on to say, “Don’t give the devil an opportunity to work” (Ephesians 4:27). The devil wants you to blame others for your anger. But realize, there’s no one to blame but the devil! And like a soldier with a machine gun, who just discovered the enemy, turn your weapons completely on him. Use your anger to resist the devil by speaking the Word with an aggressive force, and eliminate his opportunity to work! 

6. Get the whole picture. So often, the reason we get mad or afraid is that we only see a snapshot of what’s really going on. As soon as anger comes, ask God to open your eyes to see the big picture. He did it for Elisha’s servant. He will do it for you!

THINK IT AND SAY IT

I am free from the power of anger. I have power over it! I have power, love, and a sound mind. I will not act rashly, but choose to listen quickly and speak slowly. I say to anger: You are fired!

I refuse to blame anyone for my angry feelings. I will use my aggressive feelings against the devil by speaking the Word of God and resisting him firmly in my faith today, in Jesus' Name!