19th. August. 2021. Daily Devotion.
Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.
Anger is part of a natural human process that is healthy. There are things that should make us angry, and feelings of anger are the thing that may cause us to stand up to something evil and potentially harmful to ourselves or those we care about. The problem is when a feeling of irritation turns into rage, or feelings of anger result in a sinful reaction. Unchecked, anger can do harm to others, verbally or physically. Unless you’re acting to protect yourself or someone else, God doesn’t want us to respond this way (see Matt. 5:39).
Paul affirms the idea that there is an anger that is not sin in Eph. 4:26. It isn’t explained, but the idea seems clear. Having a feeling of anger bubble up in response to some injustice or offense is not sin. We all get irritated, have bad days, and take things harder than we should. We receive anger from others for this reason, and sometimes we’re guilty of dishing it out. What God wants is for us to stop it in its tracks. We should not continue the escalation by offering it back to the person it came from. When he says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” he is not talking about letting it rage all day with your spouse but apologizing before your head hits the pillow. What he means is that anger should not be allowed to extend through time and grow larger; it needs to be halted.
~M. Cranford
Glory to God
How glorious you are in the nature of your world, O Lord. Each day, your creatures awake to new life and joyfully sing your praises with a thousand tongues. You are the source of life, the destroyer of death. By the light of the moon, the night birds sing, and the valleys and hills lie like wedding garments, white as snow. All the earth is your promised bride awaiting her spotless husband. If the grass of the field is like this, how gloriously shall we be transfigured in the coming of your kingdom! How splendid our bodies, how spotless our souls! All praise to you for your power and mercy, now and forever, Amen.
For Forgiveness of Sins
Searcher of secrets, I have sinned against You willingly and unwillingly, knowingly and unknowingly, repeatedly. Since I was born of the holy font until this day I have sinned before You, by my senses, by my mind, and by all the members of my body. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner, I pray in the name of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer for Troubled Times
O God, Help us please to understand and to act, The world has had so many tragedies in recent months. We struggle to see good some days. The news is inescapable, at times, coming even into our pockets and purses. The bad news is broadcast in restaurants and on screens, in every public space it seems.
We look for peace and rest. We struggle and try to see good in our society.
It feels some days like everything is gone we once counted on. Please God, give us strength and resolve, To remember that every small act of kindness matters.
Help us to rely on you and your word, and not on the media and leaders who are weak. Please guide us and strengthen us to do your will. We pray Lord you will forgive us for our pettiness, And help us to remember and follow your Son, our Saviour, Who died on the cross. Amen.
~ Beth Maxwell Boyle.
