LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH... EPHESIANS 4:25

Daily Devotion

Two forceful personalities in a relationship are like two rivers flowing into one; there's going to be a strong current. Anger can be instant like a flash of lightning, or prolonged like the rumble of thunder. Sometimes we clash painfully, other times we distance and silently abandon the relationship. But anger handled the right way doesn't have to destroy. Here are God's rules for handling your anger.

Source: The Word For Today

...Let each one of you speak truth...
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Rule 1: Keep it honest. "Stop telling lies. Let us tell...the truth...don't sin by letting anger control you..." (Eph 4:25-26 NLT). When you're angry don't deny it. Anger can be constructive. We're right to get angry when people are mistreated and wrongs are not made right. Saying, 'I've been feeling angry and because I value our relationship I'd like to talk about it,' is honest, non-threatening and invites resolution. Observe: (a) Ignoring, stifling, suppressing, or pretending you're not angry is basically dishonest. (b) Another form of lying when you're angry is exaggeration. "You never listen to what I say." "You always ignore my wishes." "Nobody does anything around here except me." Such generalisations are untrue and serve only to aggravate and polarise, guaranteeing the real problem gets obscured and goes unsolved. (c) Another way to lie when you're angry is blaming. "If you'd arrive on time I wouldn't have to nag you," or "If you'd quit nagging so much, maybe I'd start being on time." Blaming is a way of evading your own responsibility while pointing the finger at others. It angers others, perpetuates your own anger and never produces the result you want. God's way is, "Let each one of you speak truth," and it works when you do it in love.

SoulFood reading: 2 Kings 7-9, Luke 1:1-10, Ps 73:1-16, Pr 13:17-19

This Daily Encouragement comes from The Word for Today devotional available free from UCB Australia. For more information, please visit The Word For Today website at www.thewordfortoday.com.au