Don't Let Politics Steal Your PeacePrøve

Those people make me so angry! When we are afraid a political party will threaten something we value, our fear can easily turn into anger. We may even get angry at other Christians. Anger is always a secondary emotion. Anger is a response to feeling a threat to security, connection, or freedom. Anger drives us to action. There is such a thing as righteous anger, but it's rare. Most of the time, we get angry because we feel a threat to ourselves or our family. When we get angry, it’s easy to lash out, react, or say things we later regret. It’s much easier to act like a Christian than to react like one. Our reactions show what's deep inside. If we have lots of fear, it will often lead to frustration and anger. Today’s verse talks about how important it is to slow down when you get angry. We have to be quick to listen and slow to speak, even if we don’t agree with the other person. When we respond in the heat of our anger, we fall into the “anger of man,” which will not accomplish God’s purposes. Today, when you see or hear something that starts to make you angry, slow down. Step away. Say a prayer and ask for God’s help. Remember, God loves the person who is making you angry. That person wants the same things as you do. Let anger remind you that only God’s love can fulfill our deepest needs. Pray for peace. Pray for the person who is making you angry. Let God's peace replace your anger.