Scripture Reading: Proverbs 16:32; 19:11

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)

Man has put the emphasis on the wrong things. We have been taught that men who capture a city, bring down a government, occupy a nation or win a great victory in battle are heroes. But the greatest hero is the one who can rule over the enemy within.

God wants to give us inner greatness. He wants us to be overcomers. True victory is victory over the flesh and the soulish realm. If we are controlled by soulishness we can never be what God wants us to be. The Holy Spirit can only take complete control of us when we have conquered self.

So many Christians weep at the altar, telling the Lord that they are dedicating their lives to Him, and then they go away to do whatever they want to do. They even use their soulish prayers to force God to bring about situations that allow them to get their way, and then they call that “answers to prayer.”

There is a realm of soulish power which can cause things to happen that has nothing to do with miraculous answers to prayer — it is mind control. Some call it soulish witchcraft.

Be very careful never to operate in that realm. Do not allow angers to possess you nor control you, for if you do they will destroy many whom you love, and ultimately yourself. Let go of anger. Give God your angry spirit; only God can be angry and not sin.

Anger is strength, but it is the wrong kind of strength. A person who has an angry spirit is like a ticking timebomb. You never know when they will explode. Anything can trigger them off. And they do as much harm and are as destructive as a bomb — destroying recklessly — the good and the precious.

Conquer that angry spirit. It is possible, or God would not command you to do so.

“The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.” (Proverbs 19:11)

It takes a strong man to hold his peace and put his anger on the shelf when something has happened to upset and anger him.

So many times we get angry quickly at someone, but after a while we find that things weren’t the way we understood them to be, and we realize we were angry for nothing because that person was not to blame.

How foolish we feel then! We promise ourselves, “Next time I’ll be more wise. I’ll find out for sure what it’s all about, and then I will speak.”

The devil will taunt you and call you a coward if you refuse to fight for your rights. But God knows your heart and He gives you credit for being wise and having discretion. Wait until you have discernment concerning your problem. Try to exercise patience. Tomorrow you will understand the situation better than what you do today.

God will reveal the things that still lie hidden.

And even if you do not find all the answers, or the reasons why certain terrible things happened, and why certain people, whom you loved, turned against you and hurt you, be assured that when you see the Lord, He will answer all the questions in your heart. There are certain evils that have been done against you behind your back which, if you found out about now, you would never be able to forgive in this life. They would embitter your soul forever. But in Heaven, when your love is perfect, you will be able to forgive freely, every evil — even murder. So do not seek to find out everything. Leave things that would trouble you with God. Pass over the matter. Wait until later, and it will be to your glory.

Gems of Wisdom by Gwen Shaw
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