Stuck in the Muck

CONSIDER
Too often we are stuck in our anger and ruminate on the offenses until they fester in our souls. As we consider the impact on an individual, we can recognize there is a transgression progression that begins with unmet expectations resulting in frustration, hurt, and anger. A transgression that results in anger may move to resentment and progress to bitterness. Yielding to the temptation, we shift to demanding satisfaction and seeking revenge. Because we cannot achieve satisfaction, the situation may degenerate into hatred.

BIBLE TRUTH

But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness. (1 John 2:11 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Anger is a God-given emotion to address unmet expectations. When anger begins to arise we must ask, “What did I expect?” Often just identifying our expectations can assist in determining how to proceed. Was it a personal expectation, or was it God’s expectation? Most of the time, we must admit that personal expectations arouse our anger. We wanted our way, and events did not occur as we expected. Our self-centered sense of entitlement convinces us we must have everything we want.

Then we must ask, “Was it realistic and appropriate to expect?” When we conclude that our expectation has not been realistic or appropriate, then we must adjust our expectations. With the realization that I have fallen short in my expectations, I must ask for forgiveness and forgive the debt.


PRAYER
Jesus, I know that You say, “Love your enemies!” I know that You say, “Pray for those who persecute you!” I desire to act like a true child of my Father in heaven in this way. You give Your sunlight to both the evil and the good. You send rain on the just and the unjust alike. If I love only those who love me, what reward is there for that? Anybody can do that. If I am kind only to my friends, how am I different from anyone else? Anybody can do that. . . . (Matt. 5:44–47)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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The Conundrum of Anger

CONSIDER
It seems apparent that there are times we can be angry and sinful, but there can also be times we can be angry without being sinful. So what is the difference?

BIBLE TRUTH

"The Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth." (Deut. 6:15 NLT)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God can be jealous because He has no rival! In like fashion, God can be angry and not sinful because He is the only one who has a right to expect anything! Since He is God, He created the world and all that is in it. He established the order of all that is. Therefore, He knows exactly what to expect and has every right to expect things to go according to His blueprint.

Anger is a God-given emotion designed to assist in addressing issues. We get angry as the result of unmet expectations. Something we expected to happen did not occur. Our anger is not sinful when we expect the same things God expects. Sin enters the scenario when we expect our self-centered expectations to be met. As Creator and Sustainer, God is justified in having His expectations met. However, because I am not God, I have no right to demand that my expectations be fulfilled. When we assert that our way must be followed, we are usurping God and elevating ourselves above His position. This idolatry is sin, and the anger that results from expecting to get our own way is also sin.


PRAYER
God, Sometimes it is difficult, but I do not want to become conceited or provoke others. Help me not to be jealous of others either. . . . (Gal. 5:26)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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My Way or His Will?

CONSIDER
Unfortunately, all too often we lose sight of the treasures God has in store for us, and we continue to search for trinkets we perceive to be valuable. While we work against what God wants to do in our lives, we continue to assert our way over His will. Gratefully, God installed a warning system that can be used to determine when things are not going as expected. Anger is evidenced when either God’s expectations are being violated or when my personal expectations are being violated.

BIBLE TRUTH

In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Gen. 4:3–7 ESV)

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Psalm 4:4 sheds some more light on the topic: “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” This passage is reiterated in the New Testament: “In your anger do not sin” (Eph. 4:26 NIV). Verse 27 emphasizes the reason why we should not let anger control us: “for anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Since I really do not want the devil to have a foothold in my life, I must be diligently cautious to make sure God is in control of my anger, not I.

PRAYER
Dear God, I know that now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. I don’t want to lie to anyone. I desire to live a life that has stripped off my old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Please enable me and encourage me to put on my new nature so I may be renewed as I learn to know my Creator and become like You. . . . (Col. 3:8–10)



(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

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Our Deliverer

CONSIDER
God is extending deliverance to us as we rely on Him. The question is, will you in your desperation depend on God? Will you respond to the invitation God gives to you? Will you continue in your self-effort? Will you believe the same lies? Will you commit the same sins? Will you experience the same problems over and over again? Or will you realize that you are a child of the King with an inheritance already in your possession?

BIBLE TRUTH
“It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies”(Zech. 4:6 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
God’s job is to bring us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, by whatever holy means are appropriate. God uses love to promote purity (1 John 3:1–3), goodness to promote repentance (Rom. 2:4), patience to promote redemption (Luke 8:4–15), discipline to produce maturity (Heb. 12:5–10), and pain to promote growth (Heb. 12:11). God uses trials to bring us to completion (James 1:2–4), tribulation to produce hope (Rom. 5:3–5), trauma of truth to produce brokenness (2 Cor. 7:8–11), and thorns in the flesh to produce dependency (2 Cor. 12:7–10). All His blessings are for achieving the one purpose of transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. This endeavor is His most important task. All facets of God’s economy function to produce Jesus’ image within our souls, bringing glory to Him as we depend on Him. God produces His essence within us as we yield to Him.

PRAYER
God, I am certain that You, who began the good work within me, will continue Your work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. . . . (Phil. 1:6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

If you would like to receive our blog posts via email, simply submit your email address in the box on the left. They will make you verify your request by jumping through a few hoops, but that is for your safety!

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