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Dexu Xia

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Oct 3, 2017, 2:29:54 AM10/3/17

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Anger Management

In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

As I had dinner with a friend, she expressed how fed up she was with a particular family member. But she was reluctant to say anything to him about his annoying habit of ignoring or mocking her. When she did try to confront him about the problem, he responded with sarcastic remarks. She exploded in anger at him. Both parties wound up digging in their heels, and the family rift widened.

I can relate, because I handle anger the same way. I also have a hard time confronting people. If a friend or family member says something mean, I usually suppress how I feel until that person or someone else comes along and says or does something else mean. After a while, I explode.

Heavenly Father, may the words that we speak bring honor to You.

Maybe that’s why the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:26 said, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Providing a time limit on unresolved issues keeps anger in check. Instead of stewing over a wrong, which is a breeding ground for bitterness, we can ask God for help to “[speak] the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

Got a problem with someone? Rather than hold it in, hold it up to God first. He can fight the fire of anger with the power of His forgiveness and love.

Heavenly Father, please guard us from uncontrolled anger. May the words that we speak bring honor to You.

For help in managing anger, go to discoveryseries.org/cb942.

Put out the fire of anger before it blazes out of control.

抑止怒火

生气却不要犯罪，不可含怒到日落。-以弗所书4章26节

有一天，我和一位朋友共进晚餐时，她告诉我，她对家中某一个成员非常反感。对于他长久以来的冷嘲热讽，朋友一直隐忍，没有向对方表达自己的不满。后来朋友忍无可忍，终于当面问他为何如此，却招来对方更多的嘲弄，结果让她忍不住大发脾气。最后双方相持不下，彼此的嫌隙愈来愈大。

我听了心有戚戚焉，因为我处理愤怒的情绪也是如此，我通常不晓得要如何与对方解释或对质。若朋友或家人出言不逊，我即使感到不愉快，也多半不会表露自己的情绪，都会隐忍下来。直到对方或者其他人也一再冒犯，我就会忍无可忍，怒不可遏，一发不可收拾。

或许，正因如此，使徒保罗在以弗所书4章26节劝勉我们：“不可含怒到日落。”为悬而未决的冲突设定时限，可以避免自己怒火中烧。与其为此苦恼，心生苦毒，还不如恳求上帝帮助我们，如何向对方“用爱心说诚实话”（以弗所书4章15节）。

你是否正面对这样的人呢？与其闭口隐忍含怒，不如开口向上帝陈明此事。祂宽恕和慈爱的大能，将浇熄我们心中的怒火。

天父，求祢保守我们，不致失控大发雷霆。
愿我们口中的言语，能荣耀主名。