And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27

Anger is not a sin, but letting anger control you is. Anger is an emotion that lets us know what's going on inside. When we see anger that way, we can deal with it by taking a good look at what we are letting in and what is coming out of our hearts. Sometimes anger is the result of not getting what we want or what we think we need. We put expectations on ourselves and on others, and when disappointment slaps us in the face, we far too quickly slap back at whoever is close enough to feel the sting.

For Christians, anger can be destructive. It causes us to lose self-control and do things we would normally never consider doing or say things we would usually never allow to spill from our lips. It hurts people and damages relationships. It leads to sin by giving the enemy a foothold, and when we give him a foothold, it can become a stronghold. That means that if we give him a little control of our life, he’s going to take over more and more of our life. His goal is always the same—to pull us away from Jesus. When we allow our anger to lead to resentment, rage, bitterness, or worse, the enemy wins that battle. And when we let him win a battle, he’s one step closer to winning the war. 

Jesus never reacts to anything we do wrong in anger. Neither should you. If your anger is keeping you from loving others like Jesus does, take it to Him. Ask Him to help you examine your feelings and open your heart. He will reveal what needs to revealed and remove whatever you are ready to surrender. The next time anger threatens to control you, rather than getting your nose all bent out of shape, get your nose in your Bible instead! Fill your heart so full of God’s holy truth that there’s no possibility of the devil’s lies sneaking in. Jesus will always fill your heart with all the right things when you lean into His. He’s right there whispering love, so get quiet and pull up close enough hear every word. You are loved! 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32