Most of us desire to walk in harmony with others, but in this world conflict cannot totally be avoided! Even though anger is a normal human emotion, if held onto, it can easily turn into something that will make us fall short (sin) and keep us stuck in an undesirable place. To be emotionally and spiritually healthy we must learn to acknowledge (pray), work through (feel), and release (let go),of our hearts layered anger, giving it to our Lord. HE is big enough to take it and replace it with His loving, healing touch! It is necessary that we first make peace within our own hearts before we can be slow to anger, and able to answer others with a gentle tongue. Yet it is still easy to get pulled into contention with a hot-tempered person, even when our heart’s desire is to walk in peace! When conflict arises, God does not call us to be a doormat, but by grace; He calls and enables us to walk in,and speak the truth without getting pulled into the volatile, unstable, impulsive power of wrath and anger. It is God’s desire to use our words and lives to bring His way of peace to a world that is filled with conflict.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention” (Proverbs 15:1, 18