So one of the big things I am working on in 2010 is not getting angry, in a bad, not so useful way. One of the biggest wastes of my time is when I let what other people do bother me. Seriously, think of how many times a day you let people make you upset. Someone says an off handed comment about you, a tailgater in traffic, sometimes even your family does it, for example there have been several times when my kids have said less than kind statements about me. And we let it all ruin our day.
What if in 2010 we followed the advice of scripture? What if we prayed for our enemies? What if we forgave people immediately without hesitation or even a reason to? What if we put others before ourselves?
I think a lot of times we are so prideful that we forget that God calls us to love our enemies, pray for them, and think of others as better than ourselves.
Colossians 3:8-10 'But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.'
If you have said yes to Jesus, then you have a responsibility to work hard at not getting angry, to not saying bad stuff about other people. We are called to put on the "new self", that is who we are in Christ - NEW!! Don't do the old stuff that revolves around yourself, strive to become who God wants you to be.
There are things that we should get angry about: poverty, starving children, victims of injustice, bullys, domestic violence, drunk driving, the list could go on forever. I've made a decision to not get angry about stupid stuff while the rest of the world literally goes to hell.
I am challenging myself to let go of stupid anger, and to make a difference in the world. I want to challenge everyone else to get angry the right way. Give to the poor, help earthquake victims, give a homeless guy a sandwich and a Coke rather than shaking your head at him. Life is so short and I don't want to waste another minute of it cursing the guy out who just cut me off in traffic. Refuse to have enemies, instead of finding ways to have them.
