Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of of fools.
-Ecclesiastes 7:9
So while searching the net for a topic and asking the only person I know that reads this blog (thanks Allie) a common theme was introduced, anger and anxiety. I might have done one on this before but I'm not exactly sure and really don't feel like going back and looking. But all the blogs 5 in all including one that said the Incredible Hulk could be cured with massive medication and anger management. I figured what the heck, besides we're all angry and anxious once and awhile and well ok alot, so whats the harm in repeating if I've already done one on the topic.
"In your anger do not sin." Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the Devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
-Ephesians 4:26-31
So anger and anxiety are an everyday occurance for all of us, some of us more than others. It seems these day's that everything can cause you to be angry or cause you to be anxious. For instance while I'm writing this a song that was dubbed "our song" by an ex is playing on pandora is playing. Though it's been awhile I still get angry with how that relationship ended and the song tends to stoke the flames that I've mostly put out. Now just in case you are reading this I'm not mad about how the relationship actually ended, whats done is done, more mad at myself for how I acted afterwords sorry. Anyway as I was saying. anger and anxiety is nothing to really laugh at or over look. Some people have serious issues with them. some people can't control them as well as other, and for some they become serious medical conditions that require medications and therapy to manage. There is nothing wrong with this. In my opinion anger is something that is not avoidable, and no matter how much inner peace you have you will still get anxious about something. Some of the things that cause these can be as simple as bills (my big one), relationships, stupid people (another big one for me), work, roommates, pets, childen, and many many other things that are to numerous to to list. So how do we deal with all this stuff? How do we calm ourselves down, and how do we prevent ourselves from making fools of ourselves and possibly loosing friends and family members?
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him becuase he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
-1 Peter 5:6-8
This verse actually paints a really good picture. Anyone whose every dealt with massive anger and anxiety knows that it is like a lion that follows you around waiting for its first chance to pounce. Take it from me, someone with massive anger issues. It took me forever to figure out how to not lose my temper, unfortunatly it took alot of dents in the side of my truck and a couple holes in the wall to figure it out. I learned to pray. I never thought that it would work, but after awhile when I got mad, I'd calm down walk away, and say a prayer and ask for help calming down. There were several times that I simply just left making up some stupid excuse that I had something to do or something that I needed to get done. I've even simply just got up and left without telling anyone where I'm going. Anger really scared me, I didn't want to scare what friends I had away, the were to great to screw up my relationships with. So I've learned to take a deep breath, count to ten, and say a quick prayer to calm me down. Take my word for it, it works.
I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me
-Psalm 120:1
Anxiety is something I've experienced but not as bad as some of my friends. I've seen friends that get so worked up that they actually shake. They get worked up and basically shut down all together. It's scary both being anxious and being around while someone you care about is anxious. I learned early to calm down as far as being anxious, and having done the job I do I've gotten fairly good at talking my friends down from anxiety attacks when its called for, but I still get terrified. I worry so much about the people I care about that when it happens, I get anxious. Ironic isn't it. But still I find that prayer is a great way to calm down and when it happens I through up a quick little prayer to help me help the person I'm helping and I feel comforted and calm and able to help better.
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
-Psalm 55:22
I find it amazing how powerful prayer is. No matter what happens it seems that, like all those annoying cell phone commercials say, there's a prayer for that, (you know, there's an app for that.). Prayer can be calming, comforting, relaxing, etc.... I think I've made my point. Prayers provide strength and an inner calm that can help you through any situation. The best part about this whole thing, is when we're angry and anxious, and we can't seem to form a thought let alone, the ability to think of words to say a prayer or how to word it there a two great parts to this. One is that we don't need to find the words, God knows whats in our hearts and knows our prayers before we do. Second, if you feel like saying the prayer either outload or in your head helps to calm you, you can always go back to the basics and the prayer that Christ taught us to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come
thy will be done,
on Earth as is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom and the power forever and ever Amen.
Not all churches say that prayer the same I know I'm usually the guy at a catholic service that is the only one still saying it when everyone else is done but it doesn't matter. So next time you get angry or anxious, when you just want to pound that idiot talking in the face, or your so worked up that your heart is beating out of your chest, and your breathing is rapid do this. Close your eyes, take slow deep breathings in through your mouth and out through your nose, count to ten, and send a prayer up to the big guy. He'll stand with you through it and all will be fine. So this isn't my best entry, not by far, feel free to comment if you'd like to and give me any idea's for things to write about. Thanks for reading and God bless.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
-1 Peter 5:7
The anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.
-Proverbs 12:25
No comments:
Post a Comment