TUESDAY June 18, 2024
Don’t Give the Devil a Foothold
“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Paul named another common sin that can destroy people’s lives! How many times have we heard the news about someone being murdered in a moment of rage? In the Bible, in a moment of anger, Cain killed his brother Abel and buried him in the ground (Genesis 4). Moses looked this way and that way before he killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand. Without Moses knowing, Hebrew slaves witnessed the murder. Moses should have looked up because God saw the entire scenario, too! Moses panicked and fled (Exodus 2:11-15).
Anger is such an eruptive emotion in response to something that aggravates us. It can happen on the freeway, at home, or anywhere else. When anger is uncontrollable, it can cause so much damage. It can inflict wounds or hurt people, emotionally. I have found that when I really get angry, it helps to take a long walk and cool off. I need to give God the opportunity to speak to me and calm my spirit.
As Christians, we cannot continue to live a life of anger. Proverbs 16:32 tells us: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. We can feel the emotion of anger, but it is what we do with it afterwards that counts. This is what Paul advised: “Be angry, and do not sin.” What happens when we do sin? We give place to the Devil. He will work through your anger to destroy your wife, your children, and others. Think before you act.
Bring yourself to your knees and ask God to give you the power of the Holy Spirit to help you overcome anger. When you have lost your temper, that very same day before the sun goes down, you need to apologize and ask for forgiveness. Make things right, otherwise, your anger will continue to give Satan a foothold in your life.
I have no more right as a Christian to allow a bad temper to dwell in me than I have to allow the devil himself to dwell there.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
