Dealing with Anger? Meditating on Bible Verses from Proverbs

Do you have a problem with anger?

I hope this is practical and helpful for everybody.  If you are involved with Christian apologetics (a big topic on our blog) you would no doubt encounter people who might test your patience.  Or maybe your weakness is not during evangelism but ministry within the church.  Are there people and situations at work that provoke you to ungodly anger?  We can easily have blind-spots; So ask yourself, does your family think you have a problem with anger management?

Confession to the Lord your problem and sin should be your first step.  He is gracious and faithful to forgive and also to cleanse you (1 John 1:9).

I also think it is important to regularly review some verses from Proverbs.  It is good to meditate on them and memorize them as fight against sin before you fall into unrighteous anger.

Verses on putting anger in perspective

I think having the right perspective and understanding anger in its proper perspective is half the battle.

Proverbs 29:11: A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.

Question to meditate upon: Do you see that it is foolish to lose your temper?  Do you see that it is wise to hold back your temper?

Proverbs 16:32: He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Question to meditate upon: Do you believe being slow to anger is strength?  Do you realize strength is most powerful with self-control than winning externally?

Proverbs 14:29: He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

Question to meditate upon: Do you realize that being slow to anger shows you have great understanding?  Do you avoid exalting in folly?  If so, do you avoid being quick tempered?

Verses on the right response

Proverbs 19:11: A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

Question to meditate upon: When you think about a situation are you thinking about it with the goal of trying to slow down, reduce and avoid being angry?  Do you believe it is glorious to overlook a transgression?

Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Question to meditate upon: Have you vowed to see the importance of answer gently when someone is angry?  Have you disavowed using harsh words when someone is angry?  Do you believe that harsh words is to throw gasoline into the fire of someone’s anger?

Proverbs 15:18: A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

Question to meditate upon: Are you avoiding to further stir up a strife during a conflict?  Do you aim to calm down a dispute?  If so you would be slow to anger.