Daily Devotional: Thursday, Oct 22
Speaker: Jeremy Johnson
Theme: Taming the Tantrum Within You
Weekend Music links on iTunes: All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises by Paul Baloche; Sing, Sing, Sing by Chris Tomlin; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; You Saw Me by Hillsong.
Read: Proverbs 17: 9,14,19,27
Proverbs Challenge Chapter of the Day: Proverbs 17
Think: "Fellow believers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..." (James 1:19) Slow to become angry??? It is not the American way to be slow about anything. With 70 mph speed limits, microwaves, Insta-hot, 24 Hour Fitness (oh, that refers to their operating hours not time to get fit) anyway, you know the mindset.
Today we look at step #4 in getting us to peace and freedom by honoring God with our anger. Step 4 is that we learn to diffuse our anger. Several weeks after the 4th of July twelve hour firework celebration at my cabin, I made a campfire using debris from the beach. I tossed in several "sticks" I had found lying among the oysters. A friend saw these "sticks"- actually exploded bottle rockets, and voiced concern over my throwing them into the pile. I assured her that they had spent more time under water than above, thus perfectly safe. Then to my utter amazement there was an explosion that sent my friend and her dog running for cover. I was incredulous, how could that happen? Those items were water soaked, unable to ignite, or so I thought. Later, a gun owner explained the physics of my bottle rockets and gunpowder. Seems that the powder was still there, lying dormant, ready to blow with the right exhilarant.
When you and I dispose of our anger, we must be sure that it is also destroyed. Otherwise when we are unsuspecting, a situation may ignite the "hidden" anger and cause an explosion disturbing all in proximity.
Do: Meditate on, maybe even memorize Proverbs 17:27 - "A (person) of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a (person) of understanding is even-tempered." Several times during the day take an inventory of how your life has measured against this advice.
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, teach me your ways that I might be wise with my words. Help me to show restraint when it just seems so impossible. I desire to be even -tempered and empty of all that may be lying deep within ready to come forth in an unpleasant manner. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
