Devotional Time with God

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19–20

Pastor Rick once said, God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should be listening more than speaking. This verse additionally tells me to not get angry too easily.  Instead, I should be listening more intently, with understanding and compassion.  Then I may talk with kindness, and the very last thing I should do is get angry.

Should I get angry at all? The Message version of the Bible summarized it like this:

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

I should not get angry with evil intentions. If I find myself wanting to speak or act in anger, I must let God be the one doing the talking and acting. God does not react in evil ways. He’s the author of life and the knows everyone’s future. He’s the only perfect solution to any problem.

I plant myself with God’s word, so I may yield fruitful life and relationships. Self-righteous anger is not right.  God-centered solution is what I need, with strength under pressure.

The one thing I struggle most is figuring out when to speak up.  All sorts of things go into my mind when I hear something I don’t like.  Unfortunately, most of them are anger.  Anger about the unfairness.  Anger about the injustice.  Anger about the lies.

I have to figure out why I’m feeling angry.  Is it for selfish reason?  Is it my ego or pride being hurt?

Or is it because injustice is happening to other people?  Other people’s rights are being trampled?  Others are hurt, secluded, discriminated, or extorted?

There’s the difference: It’s not about me.  If I think it’s going to benefit many people that I speak up, then I must do that.  But I must do so in truth, kindness, and gentleness.  I must not succumb to fear and anger, because it’s not what God wants me to do (2 Timothy 1:7).

I speak up to represent God’s light – to lead the world to Christ.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19-20

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:8-10

I don’t want to live with the pain that I’ve experienced in my life.  So why is it that I always dwell in them?  It’s in my mind.  It’s in my dreams.  It’s in my decisions for the future.  It’s not healthy.

I’ve had the pains for so long, I’m comfortable with them.  Bad relationships?  Been there.  Bad decisions about my career?  Done that.  Do I learn from them? Absolutely.  Do I remember them?  Sure.

The pain became my identity.  “I am what I am.”  What an excuse.  But it’s an easy excuse for any character defect that I have.  It’s an easy way out of doing something to correct it.  I want my identity to be good and constant.

My defect has a payoff.  If I get mad and starts yelling at my daughter, I will get her attention.  If I get angry and shunned my wife, she’ll (hopefully) try not to tick me off again.  I do the bad and awful things because it has short term benefits.  SHORT TERM. Instant benefit is temporary.  I want a lasting change.

Satan is sneaky – he wants me to stay in my pain and discourages me.  The scene is like a movie or comic books, when there’s a decision to be made, like returning a dropped wallet with money in it, both the demon and angel will speak to me on each shoulder.  Most likely I’ll listen to the demon because his suggestion will make me feel good – albeit temporary.  I will need to listen to the angel more.

I need to know God’s truths and abide by them.  Only then I’ll no longer prolong the pain.  God will set me free.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

John 8:32

My parents are hot tempered.  I could recall they yelled at each other a lot when I was just a kid.  Now I have my own family, I felt ashamed that I’m also doing it to my wife, in front of my own daughter.  My parents gave me the “DNA” of bad temper and stubbornness.

Then, there are circumstances that drive me to do the things I do.  For a long time, my parents are “hands off” parents, and trusted me at the very young age to grow up by myself.  It was a teenager’s dream!  I learned from my friends, my sisters, and my uncles/aunts.  The influence from my uncle led me to a bad relationship.  The influences from my friends were into procrastination and sometimes college drinking binges.  With my sisters, I just did all I could to be not like them!

I chose to follow my friends more  because they were more fun.  Peer pressure was a big influence in my life.  I chose to accept that my temper was hereditary and there was nothing I could do about it.  I chose to go with the moment, and followed fads or whatever was “cool” at the time.

The choices that I made had painful consequences.  I became distant from my parents.  I viewed relationships as something I must control myself.  I often refused to know other people’s feelings.  I was selfish.  I paid for it in spades: lost relationships, lost time, and lost opportunities.

But I now know it doesn’t have to be this way.  For God’s promises:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

The key is Jesus!  Put my faith in Him, I will be transformed.  I don’t have to be of this world.  I need to be part of God’s plan in heaven.  I don’t have to be stuck with my bad choices.  Jesus paid for my sins.  With His grace and mercy, I’m forgiven.  Now I have to let His will be done.  God’s perfect character must shine in me, so I don’t have to show my defects.

I’ve always stated in this devotional blog that I have a problem with anger.  In this blog I counted 16 previous posts that mentioned anger.

It’s no coincidence that it’s a popular subject.  Recently, Pastor Rick Warren had 6 Purpose Driven devotionals related to anger.  Apparently it’s a common problem with people.  It’s the #1 problem with our lives.

I jumped in conclusion too fast.  I judged people too harshly.  I didn’t listen very well.

It’s something I have to seriously deal with in my life.   Obviously, I have to the exact opposite to control my anger.

I have to start thinking of other people first.   I have to slow down and give others the benefit of a doubt.  Most of all, I have to listen (not just hear) what others have to say.

The cost of anger is too high.  I must be smart about it and control my anger.

Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.

Proverbs 15:18

People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble.

Proverbs 29:22

People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.

Proverbs 14:17

Emotions are the #1 cause of division in every relationships, and it’s no exception with parents and children.  In particular, anger is not particularly useful in parenting.

Yet, I still find myself raise my voice, feel angry, and scold my child a lot. By nature, I’m hot headed and bad tempered.  I can see it bubble up all the time.  I pray to God that I have the strength to keep my anger in bay.

I have to continue to try my absolute best, to take myself out of emotional situations.  I need to be able to step back, calm myself down, and re-assess the situation.  I need to bring my problems to God and have Him increase the love within me.

I need to set a good example for my family.  I don’t want to end up raising another hot-tempered person.  I don’t want to be an emotional parent.  I just want to be a loving and caring parent.

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Proverbs 14:29

A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire. — Hot tempers start fights; a calm, cool spirit keeps the peace.

Proverbs 15:1,18

A good person’s mouth is a clear fountain of wisdom; a foul mouth is a stagnant swamp. — The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.

Proverbs 10:31,32

What is holding me back from accepting God’s call to serve him?

The Purpose Driven Life, p. 233

Lately I’ve been short with my time and confused on how I can fit into the church’s many ministries. I have a full time job, tasks at home to help raise my daughter, and help my wife. Plus I have not found a ministry at church that would take my abilities. I am good at handling systems, troubleshooting computers, and maintaining web services. Currently, Saddleback hires professional help to maintain all of their web needs. It is a matter of time before I can find a place for me, and for my family too.

Meanwhile, I will be scheduling a Class 301 to determine my S.H.A.P.E. This is necessary for me to determine where I fit in the church. But first I must do my Class 201. 🙂

The PDL book mentions that God will be angered and remove my eternal rewards if I do not serve, as mentioned in Romans 2:8. However in reading the entire verse, I believe Pastor Rick might be simplifying this a little because it says:

But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.

I read the entire passage, God says He will be angered if I refuse to heed God’s word, refuse to serve, and live a wicked life. The whole chapter is a warning for the Jews to obey the law and not do evil (ie. break the 10 commandments). In conclusion, even though I must serve, I do not believe God will be angered by this. God will be disappointed. I’m sure He will find a way for me to realize this and serve Him and His people.