Well, if it’s wrong to be angry or to display wrath, is it humanly possible to remove these emotional reactions to what we all encounter—to remove our emotional reactions to what we might term “trying and difficult situations”? (Maybe some of us encounter these situations on a daily basis.) Well, the answer is “Yes.” YES it is possible. But it is only possible as we undergo a transformation. When a person becomes a Christian, then a change IS possible—a change in all areas of our life, and most especially in our ability to restrain ourselves, to practice self-control, and to maintain our anger. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17.

This change that we’re speaking about, that Paul speaks about here, involves many things. One of the things involved is our relationship to sin. Before we became Christians, we were “slaves to sin,” Romans 6, verse 17. But now that we have become Christians, we are “set free from sin,” Romans 6:18. Now, this does not mean we do not sin or that we cannot sin. Obviously, that is not the case. But what it DOES mean is that, sin does not have its rule—its dominion—within us, Romans 6, verse 14. In other words, we have a CHOICE now, as to whether, or not, we will sin. We are now free to present ourselves to God, to serve as instruments of His righteousness, Romans 6, verse 13. When a Christian willingly presents himself to God as a “living sacrifice,” Romans 12, verse 1, then transformation is possible. And it’s made possible “by the renewing of our mind,” Romans 12, verse 2. This renewing of our mind occurs as we “set our mind on things above,” especially upon God and upon His dear Son, Colossians 3:1-2. When we behold, or contemplate, the “glory of the Lord”, 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18, with a mind that is being renewed in this way, then it becomes possible for us to put off things like anger and wrath, Colossians 3, verse 8. And it’s possible for us to then put on things like kindness and love and the peace of God. Things, such as kindness, love, compassion, forbearance, and the peace of God, are the things that will help us to PREVENT anger and wrath from becoming a part of our lives. This is especially true of the peace of God, which, if allowed to rule in our hearts, will give us an inner calm, a serenity, and a harmony that we need in trying times.

Crucial to the putting on of such things as the peace of God is the absolute necessity of turning to the WORD of God, and prayer. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” John 14:27. Jesus also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. And then, from the pen of Paul, we read: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.

This transformation that we are speaking about here leads to reacting differently. Even as Christians, before we are transformed (and need I remind you that this transformation is a progressive thing, and some make more rapid progress than others; and frankly some never make very much progress when it comes to transformation)—until that transformation process begins and starts to take effect—then we may very well act and react in the manner of “the flesh,” that Paul speaks about in Galatians 5:19-21. And that includes displaying anger and wrath. But the more we are transformed into the image of Christ, the more we will react according to “the fruit of the Spirit,” which includes these things we have talked about: kindness, gentleness, self- control, patience, and so on, Galatians 5:22 and 23.

Just as transformation is a process, which must begin, and it must be pursued and it must be worked on, so is transformation also a process that never ends. Well, as we are in the process of this transformation, the more we work at it, the more we develop it, then the better off we will be. AND the more able we will be to withstand our own tempers, and the better we will be equipped to put off anger and wrath. Let me share with you just a few suggestions here, and I put this under the category of “Anger Management.” What we are striving for is to be transformed into the image of Christ, but as we are in that never-ending transformation process, maybe some suggestions about how we can work on controlling ourselves—this matter of “self-control”—would be worthwhile to us

I’ve taken some suggestions from an ancient book. No, it’s not the Bible, although we will back up these suggestions with Scriptures from the Bible. But, rather, it is from a first century book, written by one named Seneca. He was a Roman philosopher and educator. About 2,000 years ago, Seneca wrote a book on “management,” and the principles in his book are still very appropriate today. Listen, and I’ll go through these briefly.

Seneca says, “Avoid frustrating situations by noting where you got angry in the past.” That makes sense, doesn’t it? Jesus warned, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation,” Matthew 26:41.