Be an Overcomer

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. – Romans 12:21

What you feed grows; what you starve will eventually die. Addressing your anger will require time and patience. Unfortunately, if you have an issue with anger, you likely also have an issue with patience and might get frustrated at having to invest time to improve. But staying the same is not an option. So what can you do to start overcoming anger in your life?

Recognizing that anger is a problem is the first step. This happens when you stop blaming your anger on people and situations. People and situations can be frustrating and might never change. Your focus has to be on how you control your reaction to the inevitable. Instead of a big reaction the next time something angers you, make the decision—well ahead of time—to hold your reaction and respond better.

Second, take time to reflect on the last time your reaction was over the top. How would you want to respond if you could have a do-over? Many times, we replay what angered us and come up with more reactive things we would have said or done to win the conflict. That type of thinking is counterproductive. Instead, we have to think about what we could say or do next time that can lead toward a positive outcome. Set your mind on these reactions, and then begin practicing when minor issues occur. As you continue to practice responding differently, those reactions will become more instinctual, rather than anger.

Deciding not to let anger overcome you is a journey worth taking. To be in control of your anger will prevent a lifetime of misery, both for you and those around you. Every victory over uncontrolled anger is another step toward creating lasting change.

The only one you should compare yourself to is you. Your mission is to become better today than you were yesterday. – John C. Maxwell

I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. – Max Lucado

You cannot keep doing the same thing, the same way, and keep expecting something different to happen. – Beth Moore

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I know you are able to help me overcome the reactive nature of my anger. Help me as I surrender my will to yours so that I live my life for your glory. Amen

Taken from 100 Days to Freedom from Anger copyright © 2021 by Stephen Arterburn and Becky Brown. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.