Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)
“People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.”

The Controlled Burn

Are you out of control? Anger has a purpose, but most people handle it like a wildfire instead of a controlled burn. For anger to be useful, it must be restrained, handle swiftly, and rooted in righteousness. If your anger doesn’t serve the purpose of giving God glory, then it is unnecessary and ungodly.
The Bible says “Be angry, but sin not.” This means anger requires an immediate injection of Self-Control. Anyone can pick out a fault or vent their frustrations—that’s easy. But it takes true discipline and divine wisdom to know when to speak and when to overlook. You earn your “esteem”—your respect and your stature—not by how hard you hit, but by how much grace you show when you have the right to be angry.

The Practice:

Taking Back the Remote

1. The Discipline of Overlooking
Human nature is wired to highlight every wrong and point out every error. Overlooking an offense is an acquired skill. It is the art of choosing your battles so that your battles stop choosing you. If you fight everything that “bothers” you, you’ll be too exhausted to fight for what “matters” to you.
2. The “Pause” Protocol
Take a deep breath before you blow up. Even if the situation is “anger-worthy,” you must pause to get your bearings. This pause is the bridge between being overcome by emotion and being in command of it. If you don’t control your anger, your anger will eventually control your future.
3. Don’t Major in the Minors
Ask yourself the hard question: Is this worth burning the house down? Keep the “Main Thing” the main thing. Is the issue more important than the relationship? Parents must be especially careful here; when anger is driven by your own self-centeredness or inconvenience, you are hurting your children, not helping them. Cool heads prevail because they see the “Critical Path” while hot heads only see the “Current Pain.”

Today’s Declaration:

“I am taking the remote control of my emotions back today. I refuse to be a slave to my temper or a victim of my outbursts. I choose to overlook the minor wrongs so I can focus on my major purpose. I am practicing the ‘pause’ before I speak, and I declare that my cool head will prevail in every situation!”

Your ‘restraint’ is your ‘reputation.’ Today is a great day to make a Fresh Start!
God bless,
+Pastor Kris