Anger is a very destructive force which if allowed free reign can turn into violence and evil if not kept in check. Everyone gets angry from time to time, some people direct their anger at people and things while others direct anger at themselves and can become self destructive. Verbal or physical anger which is expressed by threatening or harming someone or harming an animal is evil, should be reported to authorities, and will be dealt with by God. Ungodly people talk negatively about others, whisper against others, start arguments and trouble which brings out anger in the people who are affected by them. People who are victims of angry people may be provoked to anger themselves and react in a way that could cause them to sin. Angry words spoken in haste can hurt others deeply, can cause the person it is directed at to worry, cause stress and fear, even extreme fear which can be considered abusive when an angry person repeatedly verbally or physically attacks another person. As followers of Christ, we must learn to control our behavior, our thoughts, our words, and our anger so that we do not sin in our anger or cause someone to fear us. We should never go to bed angry.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
The Bible tells us to forgive and love one another, not to provoke others to anger, not to direct our anger at others, not to speak or react in anger, not to bully others or cause problems for others and advises that we are to be slow to anger.
Colossians 3:8 - But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Do not angrily rule over others. Rulers, leaders, head of households, supervisors and people in authority should not rule in anger but should rule with diligence, showing mercy, and cheerfulness toward others.
Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Honest love can overcome anger. Love without trying to deceive or pull the wool over someone's eyes. Be disgusted with evil and cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Love can help you to overcome anger. Be kind and loving to one another in brotherly love, honor one another, work hard, be fervent (having a passionate intensity) in spirit and serve the Lord.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Prayer and patience can help to overcome anger. Show great joy, be hopeful and pray instantly when you feel anger or are the victim of someone else's anger. Bless them who persecute you. That may seem hard to do but if you focus on the Lord, pray immediately and give the situation to Christ to handle, you will be focusing on Him and not on the anger of the other person. Pray for the Lord to bless those persons who are harassing or annoying you. Do not curse them.
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
It is important that we do not think in our minds or act like we are better than someone else, this causes hostility from other people. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with them who weep.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Do not seek revenge-let the Lord handle it. If someone does something bad or evil toward you do not repay them with bad or evil. Always be honest and try to live in peace with everyone around you.
Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Do not get angry and take your revenge out on someone. The Lord will take vengeance for you. There is nothing you could do that could be worse than what the Lord can do to your enemies.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
How should you treat your enemies? Don’t respond to your enemies, in anger. We are to be kind to our enemies, feed them if they are hungry, give them something to drink if they are thirsty. By being kind to your enemies you will heap burning coals on their head.
Romans 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Forgive your enemies but do not put yourself back into an abusive situation If someone harms you verbally or physically, as a child of God you must forgive them, however, you are not required to stay in any abusive situation. Forgiving someone does not mean putting yourself back in a situation where you could be harmed emotionally or physically. Do not gossip about other people because gossip causes people to become offended. Violent people tend to entice other people to do things which are not good. Do not use your words for evil but use them for good.
Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Proverbs 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Proverbs 16:30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Be slow to anger because anger and rebellious words and actions can cause people to rise against you. People who rebel (are defiant, disobedient, resist authority, disorderly, lawless) bring problems upon themselves.
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that
Proverbs 17:11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. taketh a city.
Do not do bad things or speak badly about people who are doing or saying good things because if you do this is evil and that evil will not depart from your house.
Proverbs 17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Be careful that you do not start arguments with another person.
Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
People who justify the wicked (give people the impression that doing evil things are good or defending someone that you know is doing wicked things) or condemn (express disapproval, attack, denounce, censure or criticize) an innocent person causes the Lord to feel disgusted or hatred toward the person who is treating a good person in a bad way.
Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Avoid strife, conflicts, discord, and bitter disagreements with people.
Proverbs 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
A froward heart (acting out, being difficult for others to deal with) and a perverse (obstinate, rebellious) tongue will find no good and will fall into mischief.
Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Treating people harshly and problems can cause people to get a broken spirit which can cause extreme sadness, cause them to withdraw from others, and may even cause them to suffer deep depression and the person who does this to another person will not be looked kindly upon by the Lord. A foolish son (or daughter) will cause their parents to feel grief and bitterness toward them. Treating people with love and understanding is wise.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Proverbs 17:24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Proverbs 17:26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Do not involve yourself in foolish chatter, choose your words wisely. Even a fool is considered wise when he shuts his mouth and listens rather than rambling on in anger, violence or other ungodly nonsense.
Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
When we feel anger we need to take control of it immediately by removing yourself from the situation that is causing you to feel angry, pray to the Lord asking Him to remove your irritable, angry feelings, pray and ask God to bless those you are angry at. Read your Bible to get your mind off of angry thoughts. Try to find ways to diffuse your anger. Do not act out because of angry feelings. Harming someone or yourself because you are angry is not acceptable behavior to the Lord. Anger can cause you to sin. If someone is angry with you, pray silently, listen to what they are saying, do not respond to an angry person, in an angry way. Remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible especially if the angry person has a history of becoming violent. Do not say things or do anything which will provoke an angry person as this will only accelerate their anger. You may not like what the person is saying and the words they are saying may actually cause you to become angry as well, so it is very important to access the situation quickly, pray fervently, pray for the person who is angry, pray that you do not respond in an angry way, listen to what the other person is saying, and remove yourself from a possibly volatile situation as quickly and safely as possible. If the person who is angry is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may find yourself in a situation where nothing you say can diffuse their anger and your silence may even infuriate the person. It is best to stay away from people who get drunk and or abuse drugs because you never know when they may explode due to thoughts that are going through their head. If you find yourself in this situation, remove yourself from potential violent situations as quickly as possible or call for help. Do not stay in a violent relationship.