Daily Devotion - Anger

Anger Management – Daily Devotions
Saturday / November 21, 2009

You never mean to use anger to discipline your children, but sometimes it becomes part of your day. Perhaps you are too tired to get up again to reinforce your correction for the millionth time, or maybe you subconsciously model the parenting you received when you were a child. Whatever the reason, you find yourself caught in the deadly trap of yelling at your children to make them obey.

I'm sure my yelling must have made God cringe as He heard me destroying my children's tender hearts. Unfortunately, when they ignored the rough words, I felt like I was losing control, so I used even tougher words. I justified myself in the name of discipline, but I knew this was not the right way to correct a child. I knew I needed help. My anger was beginning to control more than my children did. It was beginning to control me!

Finally, conviction came to me one day when I "lost it" with my young son. I still remember the day on the stair steps up to his room. Time stopped as I saw my son's frightened eyes in response to my anger. How could someone so small and innocent be blamed for bringing out the huge ugliness inside of me? I never thought that pressure from situations beyond my control would push me to such actions, but God certainly revealed the worst inside my black heart. I quickly needed to learn some anger management!

James 1:19-20 brought me to my senses, "My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants."

On January 5, 1983, I realized my anger for what it was. I found the gentle forgiveness of God's correction and earnestly applied this same forgiveness to my children for the rest of their days. Disciplining my children remained, but my anger no longer had a place in it. Instead, house rules and accompanying consequences for violations were decided upon as a family and posted on the refrigerator.

Does anger play a role in disciplining at your house? If so, do not give the evil an opportunity to cause you to sin any longer (Ephesians 4:27-32). Let Christ's love fill your heart and your home. "Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil.
Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ."

Father, forgive me today for using my anger when disciplining my children. Convict me of this sin and help me to always discipline in love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thought for the day from Ms. Susan

God's Cake

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake. Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!""Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"

To which the mother replies: "Yes, those things seem bad all by themselves. But, when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! "
"God works the same way. Many times, we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. However, God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He will listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here, we might as well dance."