(partially reprinted from Chris Musgrove's Daily Stir)

It's not a sin to get angry. Even Jesus got angry at times. It's what we do with our anger that makes all the difference in the world. The New International Version of the Bible translates Ephesians 4:26-27 as follows, "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." The only place, foothold, control or power the devil has over us is what we give him. How do we give the devil place? It's by holding onto anger and not walking in love.

Will Rogers said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." To avoid bad landings we must keep our anger under the control of the Holy Spirit. If we are undisciplined in our anger, giving full vent to our emotions, we are certain to cross the line from temptation into sin and in the process make a big fool out of our self.

Proverbs 29:11 says, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control."

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith."

The devil is not a lion. He is like a lion. He wants to get you out of faith by getting you out of love because he knows faith works by love. He wants to separate you from your protection just like a real lion does when he separates a single prey from their protective pack. He always starts out by planting a seed in your mind to stay upset with someone or to hold a grudge or to make sure you get even.

James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." You resist the devil by submitting to God and God is love. I have never seen anybody stay mad with someone while being totally submiited to God.

11 Timothy 2:26 says, "That they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

We get trapped by the devil when he gets us to take hold of whatever he is holding so he can drag us around wherever he wants. Let go of that stronghold by just submitting to God and His Word. That is how you resist the devil.

Just remember, you are the one that is most affected by not forgiving someone, not the other person. You are the one that is kept in bondage to hate and anger, not the other person. You are the one that can become physically ill due to unforgiveness. Do yourself a big favor and dump it at the feet of Jesus. He can handle it. It is too heavy for you to carry!

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