How to Control Your Anger

Everyone could use a little anger management these days. It seems people get triggered over anything. That tells you that people are too full of their own opinions and not willing to listen. This leads to people exploding when someone expresses an opinion they disagree with. Today, James gives a lesson on how to control your anger.

‭‭JAMES‬ ‭1:19-20

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

James starts this section of his letter by reminding the believers that they know what he is about to say, but he needs to say it, control your anger. All of us know that it is not beneficial to let our anger get out of control. You can’t completely eradicate anger from your life, but you can make sure that you don’t sin. James gives some very practical tips on how to your anger.

Every Good Thing is from Above

Counting your blessings is something that will keep you grounded. Taking time to reflect on all that God has given you can change your heart. It helps you ward off pride and reminds you that every good thing is from above. James, Jesus’ brother, warns us not to deceive ourselves.

‭‭JAMES‬ ‭1:17

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Every good thing you have was given to you from your Heavenly Father above. You may not look at it that way, but you will see that it was a blessing from the Lord if you connect the dots. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you are solely responsible for what you have in life. If that were the case, you would also have a lot of headache and heartache from your decisions, but God decided to spare you in His Grace.

Jesus Never Changes

People change over time. They get older, and their youthfulness turns into maturity. There is change going on inside as well. Youthful exuberance can often give way to stubbornness. Jesus never changes. He is the same that He was from the beginning and will remain that way for eternity. His love and care for you can be a steadying force that guides you through life.

‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭13:8

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

This was one of the first verses etched in my memory growing up as a young child. It was carved in the front of the Altar table where communion was served. I wasn’t sure what it meant back then, but I sure do lean upon it today. I relish the thought that my savior doesn’t change. He is the same as He always has been. His love was there before I loved Him, and it remains the same even though I often don’t give Him much. You can take strength in the fact the God is constant and never-changing.

Wait On the Lord

Maybe some of you are like me? You don’t do very well when you have to wait beyond what you think is normal. If patience is one of your strong suits, then this devotional might not be for you but for the rest of you, take heart in what the Psalmist says, “Wait on the…

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

Have you noticed that it is difficult to recognize people wearing masks? I have caught myself several times staring at people seeing if I recognize them. I have also blown by people I know because I didn’t recognize them till I was quite a ways past. As kids, you are told not to stare because it is rude, but Hebrews tells us that you are to fix your eyes on Jesus.

‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭12:2

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Take a moment and ponder this verse. The writer of Hebrews is telling us to fix our eyes on Jesus. The means to stare without looking away. In our attention-deficit world, that is foreign to most people. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you are supposed to look for a long time. It also means that you are to take in all of His glory. Put this into your daily routine. Just gaze upon the Lord by shutting your eyes and picturing Him in your mind. Let the Holy Spirit fill in the details.

It Takes Faith

There will be times when you can’t figure out what makes someone happy. Everything you do will fail. This will leave you frustrated and questioning what to do next. That is the way that many Christians feel when they are trying to figure out what pleases God. The writer of Hebrews tells us that it…

Hold Fast to Your Confession

Part of the job of a prosecuting attorney is to get the witness to retract their testimony. That is why a good attorney will coach them to hold fast to their confession when cross-examining happens. Any testimony that has holes poked in it will fail in front of a jury. The writer of Hebrews exhorts believers to hold fast to your confession of your faith as Satan tries to sow seeds of doubt.

‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭10:23

Since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Jesus has taken the place of the Levitical Priests of the Old Testament. He is over the house of God. You don’t need to go through another priest to gain access to God. That was accomplished when the curtain was torn in the temple on the day of the crucifixion. With that in mind, you can draw near Him with complete confidence and put your hope in Him. Hold fast to your confession of the faith because Jesus is in that place.

When We All Get to Heaven

When I was a child, we sang this song in church called “When We All Get to Heaven.” My Grandma used to belt it out by memory. One of the lines said, “What a glorious place it will be.” I believe that with all of my heart. Heaven is going to be beyond comprehension. What is going to make it so incredible is that Jesus will be there. He is there right now, preparing a place for us. Are you ready? Are you excited?

‭‭HEBREWS‬ ‭9:24

“For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”

A week ago was the celebration of Ascension Day. Churches remember when Jesus stood with the disciples and then was taken up into Heaven. You can read about it in Acts 1. When Jesus ascended, He didn’t go to a place made with hands but to Heaven itself. He is in the presence of His Father and now appears for us when Satan makes his accusations. He is our advocate. What a glorious realization to understand that the world’s best lawyer is on our side.

Sowing Seeds for Shouts of Joy

Difficult times produce a deep work in your soul. In the darkest moments, you may feel like you will never emerge from the struggle, but today’s passage will give you hope. Those tears you are shedding are sowing seeds for shouts of joy. Don’t lose hope if your outlook looks bleak. God has a way of breaking through the darkness.

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭126:5

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

All of us have had those times where we shed enough tears that could water a plant. The hurt and pain that produced those tears were deep and left lasting scars. The Psalmist lays this out beautifully in this Psalm by comparing shedding tears to sowing seeds of Joy. At the beginning of the Psalm, he is celebrating the joy that the Lord has brought, and at the end, he remembers the sorrow the nation of Israel went through before.

God Promises to Protect His People

There is a reason that Jerusalem is a place of controversy; it is central to God’s plans for eternity. It will be where Jesus sets up His millennial reign, and it is what heaven will be called after the destruction of the earth and God ushers in a new world. The controversy goes beyond the United Nations’ decision to establish Israel as a nation in 1948. No matter what comes in the ways of weapons or rockets, God promises to protect His People.

PSALMS‬ ‭125:2

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”
‭‭
Jerusalem is around 1300 feet above sea level. You ascend these mountains when you travel to them, and they surround the city. It gave Israel a natural advantage when enemies came because they had to climb those mountains when they attacked. The Psalmist uses this picture to show that God surrounds his people. There is no reason to fear anything that comes their way because God has them covered. When the Jews looked at the mountain range, they would be reminded of His love and protection.