Healing Negative EmotionsSample

Feeling Angry

Psalm 58 can be politely called, "David's rant against the wicked." When you read it, you can practically hear David's indignation about people who wrong others. David’s anger is perfectly natural as he describes the character and deeds of these people. However in verse 6, he takes a dark turn. He starts asking God to hurt them physically!

I have read that certain pastors say that it is okay to pray for harm to come to your enemies. They call it "imprecatory prayer." But that is wrong and it contradicts what God tells us to do.

In Luke 9:51-56, a Samaritan village did not receive Jesus. When His disciples saw this, they asked Jesus if they should command that fire should come down from heaven to consume them.

But Jesus said they did not know what manner of spirit they were of. In Matthew 5:43-48, he tells us how to deal with enemies: “'You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.'”

In Ephesians 4:26, we are told “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath…” David was okay in expressing his anger, but he started sinning when he prayed for harm to come to his enemies.

You might say, "Well, he didn't do anything; what could be the harm in wishing, hoping, or praying that your enemies be hurt?" Well, Jesus also taught that murders, adulteries, and other sins come from the heart.

We need to avoid allowing anger to take root in our hearts. One way you can do that is to forgive quickly. Forgiveness is not a suggestion but a command. Jesus says that if you don't forgive others, that our Father in heaven will not forgive you.

God says that vengeance belongs to Him and He shall repay. So trust in the Lord to mete out justice in His good time and in His sovereign way. Plus, you know your obedience will be rewarded. God's word says that it will and you must take God at His word.