In review of Proverbs 29:25 it says, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.”
Bottom Line:
The fear and concern of what others think of you is dangerous, however trusting in the Lord makes you safe.
What this means to me:
It’s dangerous to get caught up in the fear of or being a coward to what others think about me. I should trust God and be more concerned about what he thinks, as he loves me unconditionally.
This means that in order to get control of anger, I must base my identity on Jesus and understand that he loves me unconditionally, that I’m his, that I’m valuable, and that he has a purpose and plan for my life.
I could build my identity in some many material things such as my job, my relationships, and my possessions. However, any of these can crumble or fall away easily. So building my identity on anything other than my relationship with God, will only make me struggle with insecurity. This insecurity can be at the root of my anger. So, until I can start feeling secure about myself, people are going to be able to push my buttons. When I know who I am and who I belong to, people won’t be able to push my buttons. They won’t be able to get to me. What I’m learning is that anger and insecurity go together. The more insecure I feel, the angrier I’ll be.
The Bible says in Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that” (MSG).
When I get angry, my mouth begins to reveal what’s inside my heart. Here are some things to keep in mind: A harsh tongue reveals an angry heart. A negative tongue reveals a fearful heart. A boasting tongue reveals an insecure heart. An overactive tongue reveals an unsettled heart. A judgmental tongue reveals a guilty heart. A critical tongue reveals a bitter heart. A filthy tongue reveals an impure heart.
On the flip side, an encouraging tongue reveals a happy heart, a gentle tongue reveals a loving heart, and a controlled tongue reveals a peaceful heart.
These points are important also for understanding others and what might be going on inside of them.
Ultimately, a heart transplant is what is needed to get rid of any anger problem. Fortunately, God specialized in this. It was called salvation! Through salvation God gave me a brand new heart and a brand new identity. This means that I don’t need to find my identity in my job, bank account, or relationships, because ultimately I find my identity in what God says about me.
Jesus can heal the three things that cause anger: hurt, frustration, and fear. Jesus can heal my hurting heart with his love. Jesus can replace my frustrated heart with his peace. Jesus can replace my insecure heart with his power.
Just like picking up a crying baby and holding it close so that it feels warm and secure, helps it stop crying (stops being angry.) Likewise, when I feel secure and accepted in Jesus Christ, my anger is going to dissipate.
Today I pray: “God, I admit that I have a problem with my anger from time to time. I let other people push my buttons, I try to get even, and often I don’t think before speaking. I’m asking for your help. Help me to reflect before reacting. Help me to learn to release my anger appropriately. Help me to find my identity completely in you. I open myself completely to you. Come into my life. Save me. Make the changes that only you can make. In your name I pray. Amen.”
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