“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)
Confession: I kind of love my backpack. Is that weird? My current one is way better than anything I had when I was in school. Not only do I use it to lug around my ever faithful notebook computer, but it’s got all these big and small pockets and compartments to toss stuff in I might need later — or stuff I pick up along the way. Now I know why women get so attached to their purses.
After a few weeks, though, my pack becomes kind of a walking junk drawer. It’s full of half-read magazines, food wrappers, receipts, books, electronic gadgets, old batteries, various cords and headphones. I’ve got to completely clean it out and repack it to keep from pulling a muscle in my neck hauling it around.
If your life was a backpack, what are you hauling around in there (along with the Holy Spirit)? Paul said it’s time to clean it out before you hurt yourself (and grieve Him). Get rid of the bitterness (old anger), wrath (hot anger), anger (anger), clamor (angry fighting and yelling), slander (saying bad things about people because you’re mad at them), and malice (wanting to hurt someone).
Get the idea? Anger should never be a to-go item. You’ll never need it later. Dump it out of your pack and move on. You’ll travel lighter.
Think: Why do you think it’s so natural for some of us to hold on to our anger and carry it around with us? Why is that such a waste of time and energy? Why is it so hard to let it go?
Pray: Ask God for the courage to dump all the anger you can find out of your life and to trust Him to take care of you.
Do: Inventory your pack. Put these 5 things on a list: bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander, malice. Next to each, put a “yes” or “no” if you’re carrying any of that around with you. Then ask God again to help you let those specific things go for today.