The Golden Nugget: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” —Mark Twain

Daily Verse: “‘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.” —Ephesians 4:26–27

Daily Message: 
Have you ever been angry with someone but they didn’t even know you were angry? How did you feel? Anger never really feels good. Which is why people act out to release it or vent to let go of it. Anger puts your body in a great deal of physical tension. It triggers impulsive behavior, giving a false sense of power and self-assurance. Acting badly from anger is weakness and not strength. And imagine if, in your anger you put yourself through all this and the person with whom you are angry doesn’t even know. Anger is a poison—and you are the one ingesting it!

Anger is one of the seven deadly sins. But it is a human emotion and God has given you every emotion. Even the Bible acknowledges that you will be angry. But it also instructs us not to sin in our anger. Anger destroys the integrity and stability of a community and devastates relationships.

God has also given you other emotions and abilities that can overcome anger’s poison. The full arsenal of God’s nature can be yours so that you don’t succumb to wrathful behavior. The most powerful weapons against anger? Prayer and forgiveness.

Consider This:

• Does God get angry? Why or why not?
• Why do small and petty things cause us to get really angry?

Take Action:
What’s the longest you’ve ever been angry with someone? Pray for God’s strength to get over your anger and tell the person today you want to move past the issue.