5 Verses to Help You Get a Grip on Anger

For 25 Bible Verses on Anger: https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/anger-bible-verses/

Related: 9 Things to Do if You Find Yourself Losing Control

Here’s a list that have found very helpful in dealing with anger. I have developed it over years of counseling my congregation and engaging in personal counseling with a godly, challenging therapist.

1. Choose to calm yourself down. De-escalate the emotions of the moment. Be patient, and wait to respond.

Thomas Jefferson: “Count to ten. If that doesn’t work, count to one hundred.”

Mark Twain: “Count to ten. If you don’t feel better by the time you get to four, swear.”

“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

2. Take your thoughts captive before they run away out of control.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

3. Learn to recognize your anger triggers, and practice short-circuiting them before they begin to snowball.

I’ve found that a journal can help me recognize my triggers. I’ve even placed post-its with lists of my triggers where I can see them and recognize them even as they happen.

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20)

4. Ask the question, “Where have I been hurt?”

Hurt and anger are two sides of the same coin. When we get hurt, the emotion which always comes next is anger. Consider what is really going on. Ask a friend to listen as you share your anger and then ask him/her to say words of comfort to them.

“Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

5. Pray against allowing Satan to get a foothold into your life because of your anger.

“In your anger do not sin do not let the sun go down while you’re still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

6. Meditate on Scripture.

Some of my very favorites include:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8).

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalm 103:8)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

7. If one or more individuals have precipitated the hurt which led to the anger, go through the process of forgiving them.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

8. Refuse the temptation to get even, and refrain from plotting revenge.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,
 but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

9. Sometimes, we come out ahead if we simply ignore the attack.

“A man's wisdom gives him patience;
 it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11).

To read the full article, How Do I Handle My Anger? by Dr. Roger Barrier, please click here. 

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