GRRRRRRR...

Danger Ahead Warning:

Prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour...

Will attack anything that looks at it, breathes too loudly or refuses to give it its way.

Has no patience in getting what it wants.

Does not want to follow rules

Will eat you alive even if you are just a bystander

And I am not just talking about Satan. I am talking about your fellow peer who is angry and out to devour who ever crosses his/her path. It may not just be a peer, it could be a close friend who will bite off your head when she has a bad day. Or maybe it is you when you feel something is unjust. Whoever it is, you fear greatly when his/her lion side roars.

How do you deal with the lion? Are you a tamer, prey or do you roar back? Maybe you are the one feeding the anger? Maybe you get all the other lions going?

First of all, you and I should never be the one feeding the anger. And I am not just talking about doing something to make them mad. You and I cannot encourage their anger over a situation. It is wrong to justify the reason to seek revenge. When the complaining starts, never encourage a negative behavior especially one that intends to cause harm to others. Also, do not sit there and feed your own anger.

Instead of feeding the anger, we should become the tamer. Holding on to anger, fighting, quarrels do not help us. Just look at the list of scriptures below.

Proverbs 26:17
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

Proverbs 17:14
Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Ephesians 4:26
"In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,

Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Proverbs 29:11
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control

Proverbs 22:24
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,

Are you seeing any positives to anger? Will it do any good to come to school and let the whole world know you are mad and someone is going to pay? Does anyone win when you or your friend start biting off every one's head?

In life you will have reasons to be upset. But, destroying those around because you got detention for no homework...really are you helping anyone including yourself? Is giving looks that could kill because someone complimented someone else more than you going to help?

Maybe it is just time for teens and some adults to take a chill pill and be a little more forgiving. And if you think your anger and ugliness is justified, just think how God responds to you when you ignore Him, use His name in vain, worship others instead of Him. He loves you and forgives you.

Choose forgiveness instead of resentment. Choose serving instead of selfishness. Choose love instead of hate. Choose breathing instead of stewing.

This is my life, I choose:

Write this verse on my mirror and memorize: 1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

*as I brush out my tangles, ask God to forgive me letting my anger destroy others.
*as I put on my contacts (eye makeup), ask God to help me see how I feed my anger so I may change my thoughts.
*as I brush my teeth, ask God to help me speak words of a tamer.
*as I put on my clothes, to put on the armor of God