Transforming Anger Through Prayer and Scripture in Personal Life
Anger, defined as an immediate displeasure at something perceived as evil, is an inherent human susceptibility, much like love [3]. While not inherently sinful, anger can become problematic if it is causeless, excessive, or prolonged [3]. Scripture provides numerous examples of anger, including God's own displeasure with sin and sinners [3, 9]. For instance, Ezekiel 5:13 describes God's anger being accomplished and his wrath resting upon those who have sinned [2]. Similarly, Psalm 7:11 notes God's anger towards the wicked [3].
However, the Bible also frequently cautions against sinful anger and offers guidance on managing it. Psalm 37:8 advises, "Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing" [1]. The apostle Paul, referencing Psalm 4:4, instructs believers to "be angry, and sin not" (Ephesians 4:26) [10, 11]. This suggests that there is a righteous anger, such as indignation at dishonor done to God or wrong to humanity, which is justifiable, but sinful passion must be avoided [10]. Other passages forbid anger outright, such as Ecclesiastes 7:9, Matthew 5:22, and Romans 12:19 [4]. Anger is also identified as a "work of the flesh" in Galatians 5:20 and a characteristic of fools in Proverbs 12:16 and 14:29 [4]. It is often connected with pride, cruelty, clamor, evil-speaking, malice, blasphemy, strife, and contention [4].
Prayer and scripture offer pathways for transforming anger. Prayer is described as direct address to God, an intercourse of the soul with the divine [6]. It involves "beseeching the Lord," "pouring out the soul," and "drawing near to God" [6]. Believers are commanded to pray [5], and prayer can be offered to God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit [5]. The Lord's Prayer, given by Jesus, serves as a model of simple and direct communication with God [8]. When facing affliction, prayer can be a means to seek God's presence, support, comfort, and deliverance [7].
Scripture provides guidance on how to approach prayer, emphasizing a heart free from anger (1 Timothy 2:8) [4]. John Chrysostom, an early church father, taught that loud speaking fuels passion, and that one must "bind the horse" (the body) to subdue the "rider" (the soul) [12]. He viewed wrath as a "fierce fire" that harms the body and destroys the soul, emphasizing the need to guard against its entrance [12]. By engaging with scripture, individuals can learn to recognize and address the roots of sinful anger, while prayer offers a direct means to seek divine assistance in cultivating meekness and wisdom to avert anger [4].
Sources
- Psalms “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Don’t fret, it leads only to evildoing. -- Psalms 37:8”
- Ezekiel “Thus shall my anger be accomplished, and I will cause my wrath toward them to rest, and I shall be comforted; and they shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken in my zeal, when I have accomplished my wrath on them. -- Ezekiel 5:13”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anger — The emotion of instant displeasure on account of something evil that presents itself to our view. In itself it is an original susceptibility of our nature, just as love is, and is not necessarily sinful. It may, however, become sinful when causeless, or excessive, or protracted (Matt. 5:22; Eph. 4:26; Col. 3:8). As ascribed to God, it merely denotes his displeasure with sin and with sinners (Ps. 7:11).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger — Forbidden -- Ec 7:9; Mt 5:22; Ro 12:19. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. A characteristic of fools -- Pr 12:16; 14:29; 27:3; Ec 7:9. Connected with Pride. -- Pr 21:24. Cruelty. -- Ge 49:7; Pr 27:3,4. Clamour and evil-speaking. -- Eph 4:31. Malice and blasphemy. -- Col 3:8. Strife and contention. -- Pr 21:19; 29:22; 30:33. Brings its own punishment -- Job 5:2; Pr 19:19; 25:28. Grievous words stir up -- Jdj 12:4; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 15:1. Should not betray us into sin -- Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26. In prayer be free from -- 1Ti 2:8. May be averted by wisdom -- Pr 29:8. Meeknes”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 30:5: For his anger endureth but a moment,.... Anger is not properly in God, he being a simple, uncompounded, immovable, and unchangeable being; nor is it ever towards his people in reality, unless anger is distinguished from wrath, and is considered as consistent with his everlasting and invariable love to them; but only in their apprehension, he doing those things which in some respects are similar to those which men do when they are angry; he turns away from them and hides his face, he chides, chastises, and afflicts, and then they conclude he is angry; and when he retur”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:26: Be ye angry, and sin not--So the Septuagint, Psa 4:4. Should circumstances arise to call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ's "anger" (Mar 3:5), without sin. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object, and when not exceeding due bounds. As in the future literal, so in the present spiritual, resurrection, no essential constituent is annihilated, but all that is a perversion of the original design is removed. Thus indignation at dishonor done to God, and wrong to man, is justifiable anger. Passion is sinful (d”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 4:4: Stand in awe, and sin not,.... That is, stand in awe of God, and his righteous, judgments; be afraid of him, and tremble before him; make him your fear and your dread, and go on no longer and proceed no further in sinning against him. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, render it, "be ye angry, and sin not": which are the words of the apostle, Eph 4:26; referring to this place; and which doubtless is the reason of these versions. There is an anger that is sinful, when it is without a cause, or exceeds due bounds, and is not directed to”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: speaking 692 692 lit. “shouting.” for loud speaking is the fuel of passion. Let us then bind 693 693 lit. “tie the feet of.” the horse, that we may subdue the rider; let us clip the wings of our wrath, so the evil shall no more rise to a height. A keen passion is anger, keen, and skillful to steal our souls; therefore we must on all sides guard against its entrance. It were strange that we should be able to tame wild beasts, and yet should neglect our own savage minds. Wrath is a fierce fire, it devours all things; it harms the body, it destroys the”