Seneca also says, “Reduce your anger by taking time, focusing on other emotions like pleasure, shame, or fear, avoiding weapons of aggression, and attending to other matters.” There’s an ancient Chinese proverb which says, “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape 100 days of sorrow.” Indeed, I believe it’s true. And Paul instructs in this way: “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report—if there is any virtue, if there is anything praiseworthy—think (or meditate) on these things,” Philippians 4:8. You’re wrestling with emotion, with frustration, building to anger and to wrath… Well, think about these things, instead.

Seneca also says, “Respond calmly to an aggressor with empathy or mild unprovocative comments, or with no response at all.” Well, the Wise Man of the Bible (Solomon) says, “A soft word turns away wrath,” Proverbs 15:1.

Also, it’s suggested: “If angry, concentrate on the undesirable consequences of becoming aggressive.” Let’s also be reminded of what David said in the Psalms: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm,” Psalm 37, verse 8. Also, we should consider the circumstances and try to understand the motives or viewpoint of the other person. Put yourself in the other fellow’s place. “Walk a mile in his shoes,” we might say. Paul says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself,” Philippians 2, verse 3.

And then, finally, the ancient writer Seneca says, “Train yourselves to be empathetic with others.” This was certainly confirmed within the Scriptures when Paul said, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,” 2 Timothy 2, verse 24. We might also be reminded of the principal set forth by the Lord Himself when He said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Matthew 7, verse 12.

Well, these are some suggestions that we might follow as we are continuing, day by day, to transform our minds to become more Christ-like. But also, perhaps, if we are having a problem with anger, with our temper, with “acting out,” as it is commonly referred to today, then perhaps these suggestions will be some things that can help us.

We bring the lesson to a close, and we state an old, Latin proverb, which says, “He who restrains his anger overcomes his greatest enemy,” and, for many, that is true. Instead of trying to determine whether we should react to some difficult situation by “losing our cool,” by “blowing our top,” by “flying off the handle,” or by surpressing our anger, our goal, as Christians, is that we ought to be in the process of changing the inner person. The more we are transformed, the more likely we are to be able to react to every situation with love, with peace, with long-suffering, with kindness, with goodness, with gentleness, and maybe, most of all, with self-control. We should follow the example of Jesus our Lord and do our very best, when a situation merits anger, to do just exactly what the Lord did: be sure that we are angry at the right thing, display our anger properly, and control that anger. Remember that Jesus did not revile, and He did not threaten [1 Peter 2:23]. Also, remember the admonition of both Paul and the Psalmist [David], when they said, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.”

Shall we cease from anger and forsake wrath by presenting ourselves to God, allowing our minds to be renewed? As we do that—as we behold the glory of God that is revealed to us in His Word—and as we ask for His help through prayer, then we will be equipped to actually “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.”