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Read Proverbs 20:1–7

1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
 whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
 those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3 It is to one’s honour to avoid strife,
 but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4 Sluggards do not plough in season;
 so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
 but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
 but a faithful person who can find?
7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
 blessed are their children after them.

An Alternative to Anger

One morning in Perth, Australia, Fionn Mulholland woke up to discover his car missing. That’s when he realised he had parked in a restricted zone by accident, and his car had been towed away. Mulholland was annoyed that he’d have to pay a fine to get his car back, but decided not to be angry. Instead of venting his frustration, he wrote a funny poem about the situation and read it to the worker at the yard. The man liked the poem, and Fionn’s car was returned without any tension.

Proverbs 20:3 tells us, “It is to one’s honour to avoid strife.” Strife is that friction that either sits under the surface or explodes in the open between people who disagree about something.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t speak up when something is wrong. But we don’t have to start an argument online or pick a quarrel. The Bible tells us that it’s possible to feel anger without letting it boil over (Ephesians 4:26). The Holy Spirit helps us to stop anger from taking control of us, so that we won’t say or do things that might hurt anyone who upsets us. —JBS

Be slow to anger; be quick to talk it over with God.

Talk to God

Dear God, please help me to control my anger so that I don’t lash out at others. Give me self-control and keep me calm.

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