The Evil of Uncontrolled Anger By Babatunde Olugboji
Have you noticed how destructive and disruptive that spirit of anger can be? We hear of acts of rage almost every day in the news.
Someone would not stop texting in a movie theater and rage got the best of a fellow movie goer and he shot the man. A man shot 10 rounds into a car full of boys at a petrol station because their music was too loud. A pastor strangled his wife. A woman started arguing with her husband and ended up fatally stabbing him. Many people are living with life-long consequences for the choices they made in a moment of foolishness, as they are being afflicted by the spirit of anger.
To put this in perspective, we’ll examine the 5 levels of the intensity of anger, to see where you are on the anger spectrum:
- Irritation:
This is a feeling of unease brought about by an unpleasant disturbance. It is a feeling of being annoyed, which causes resentment.
- Indignation:
This is a reaction to something that is perceived to be unreasonable or unfair. This is often typified as outrage.
- Wrath:
When anger reaches this level, it must be expressed in some way. Wrath is belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong. This is intense anger. You are at this stage when you have a strong desire to avenge or defend yourself.
- Fury:
Fury usually manifests in acts of violence that are accompanied by a loss of control. Fury is defined as a state of violent mental agitation, being wild or turbulent.
- Rage:
Rage is the most hostile and dangerous stage. Rage can overcome people with explosive acts of brutality that are devoid of any conscious awareness of their violent outburst.
These levels of anger demonstrate the need for self-control, which can be very complicated to attain without a life changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us to regulate our life. His power helps us put harmful feelings of anger under control. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit that defines who a believer is in Christ. (Galatians 5:22)
Whichever stage you are, God is able to change the course of your life. Will you commit to praying as outlined below this week?
- King of glory, I have hurt people around me with uncontrolled anger. I confess and rebuke this sinful anger and ask that the Holy Spirit help me make things right so that I no longer succumb to the spirit of anger.
- Father Lord, I refuse to continually be a tool in the hands of the devil, I refuse to be a slave to it. I free myself from its snare by the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus.
- Father Lord, I ask that your word will fill my heart and calm my nerves whenever the tension of anger builds up in me.
- God, I pray that you will cause your face to shine upon me and help me address this terrible spirit that has cost me a lot.
As you say these prayers, I believe the Lord will help you get back on the path of righteousness, from the path of anger.
Have a great week.
Kingdom Dynamics, a weekly column is written by Dr. Babatunde Olugboji, the President, Kingdom House, a non-profit organization in New Jersey, USA.
