Psalm 4:4

Psalm 4:4

Psa 4:4 “In your anger do not sin;” [Quoted by Paul in Eph 4:26 “ ‘in your anger do not sin.’ Do no let the sun go down while you are still angry.”]

We will certainly all be angry at times, but the question is, what do we do with our anger? Will it control us or will Truth rule with the Spirit’s power? I need to look at myself and evaluate where I am in this. Am I prepared to cooperate with the Spirit? Have I filled myself with Truth, memorizing and meditating on Scripture so I can let Truth have free reign? Am I able to look at each situation from God’s point of view, to have His big picture rather than just focus on my own unhappiness?

His point of view is, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2, 3). Am I living for my own comfort or for God’s glory?   Each moment of anger can be lived out of all the previous years’ input, obedience and experience of God working things out. Have I been calling upon the Lord and seeing Him answer, or just limping along on my own? Have I been delighting in His Word, putting it into practice or have I just been living on a human level in feeble human strength, perspective and selfishness?]

“when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”

[When I lie awake at night, emotions riled, angry, blaming others, I must willfully, carefully, realistically look at my own heart and then I will be silenced when I see the sin and selfishness there. I am no better than the others who have offended me. Clearly I am no good to God in myself, yet you, Lord, constantly love me, draw me back to yourself, rebuke, correct, forgive and restore. So I must do with others, seeking to help them rather than attacking them, even in my thoughts. I must lay in your hands the right to blame, accuse, get revenge or fight. Revenge is yours; my job is to bless, to pray for, to do good—wow, what a contrast! I praise you for your grace and goodness, for the privilege of being called to live on your level, to open the floodgates of transforming resources into the lives of those around me, especially on those who are against me, who fight me, who hurt me.

It is so important to take the time to be quiet before you, to listen to you, to get your perspective. Help me to remember that you are the measure, I am the follower; yours is the right to decide, it is mine to obey. If I abide in you, I can be the means of grace, goodness and blessing in the lives of others. May I be so today!

Selah Help me to think on these things.