How many times has each of us, in a fit of rage or frustration, blurted out a devastating remark to a friend, spouse, co-worker, or child, only to immediately regret saying it?

Or maybe you're the type that lets anger build up inside of you.  You seldom raise your voice or show anger, but you're churning inside, until one day you get sick with ulcers or have a heart attack.

Anger is one of the most powerful emotions we can experience.  Uncontrolled anger can destroy marriages, wreck careers, break up friendships, damage your health, and stunt your emotional growth.

One of the most important aspects of dealing with anger is learning how to deal with it before you are out of control.  As King Solomon wrote three millennia ago, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city" (Proverbs 16:32).

Points to build on

A person who has learned to control anger looks for the good in a situation; a person filled with anger expects confrontation.

Proverbs 11:23:  "The desire of the righteous is only good, But the expectation of the wicked is wrath."

A sure way to failure in business and relationships is to be quick tempered.

Proverbs 12:16:  "A fools wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame."

Proverbs 14:17:  "He who is quick-tempered acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated."

Proverbs 14:29:  "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly."

Proverbs 19:11:  "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And it is to his glory to overlook a transgression."

A person who is filled with anger won't listen to reason and will suffer terrible consequences.

Proverbs 19:19:  "A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you deliver him, you will have to do it again."

Proverbs 27:3:  "A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them."

A person who is filled with anger will constantly cause conflict.

Proverbs 15:18:  "A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention."

Proverbs 29:22:  "An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgressions."

Proverbs 30:33:  "For as the churning of milk produces butter, And as wringing the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife."

Avoid close relationships with angry people or they will make you angry.

Proverbs 22:24:  "Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go."

Application

One of the most important keys to spiritual growth and emotional health is taking responsibility for our emotions, which is the first step towards emotional control.  Anger is one of the most powerful of all human emotions, you must learn to control it or it will control you.