GET A GRIP ON YOUR EMOTIONS: TAMING MY TEMPER
Getting a Grip on Life
“If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.” Proverbs 25:28 (GNT)
“It is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than control an army.” Proverbs 16:32 (TLB)
What sets us off? When:
We are HURT.
We are FRUSTRATED.
We are THREATEN.
WHY WE NEED TO TAME OUR TEMPER: UNTAMED-TEMPER:
1. DAMAGE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.
“A hot-tempered man starts fights and gets into all kinds of trouble.” Proverbs 29:22 (TLB)
“The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left…” Proverbs 11:29 (TLB)
2. BLINDS YOU TO WISDOM.
“… anger causes mistakes.” Proverbs 14:29 (TLB)
“People with… hot temper[s] do foolish things.” Proverbs 14:17 (GNT)
3. SPIRALS YOU DOWN DEEPER IN SIN.
“An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” Proverbs 29:22 (NLT)
4. WEAKENS YOUR INFLUENCE FOR CHRIST.
“The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Psalms 103:8 (NLT)
“Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:20 (NLT)
HOW TO TAME MY TEMPER
I. RECOGNIZE YOUR TRIGGERS.
“But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Proverbs 4:19 (NIV)
II. REMEMBER THE CONSEQUENCE.
“And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)
III. RESTRAIN BEFORE ACTING.
“A stupid man gives free rein to his anger; a wise man waits and lets it grow cool.” Proverbs 29:11 (NEB)
“When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Smart people will ignore an insult.” Proverbs 12:16 (GNT)
“… When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it.” Proverbs 19:11 (GNT)
“… People who stay calm have real insight.” Proverbs 17:27 (GNT)
IV. RELEASE IT TO GOD IN PRAYER.
“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT)
“… Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
V. RESPOND IN LOVE.
“… speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…” Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
“A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.” Proverbs 15:1 (GNT)