IS GOD ANGRY WITH THINGS IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on
you” says the Lord your Redeemer.
(Isaiah 54:8)

MEDITATION:
Have you had a situation where someone suddenly got so angry
with you that they avoided you for some time? Maybe you have
gotten so angry with someone that you avoided them for awhile.
It doesn’t mean you no longer like the person, but you were just
upset over something they said, did, or didn’t do.

Whenever anger flares up like that, it can be difficult to get over
it and reestablish our relationships with others, can’t it? Even
after our (or their) anger has subsided, we can feel uncomfortable
around each other for awhile, until we are able to put it behind us.

We may start communicating again, but the warmth we had
before can either be missing, or not as strong as it was. Why?
Because we have difficulty overcoming our feelings of anger.
We may have even been angered because someone made us
mad and we don’t like getting mad. When we became angry,
it caused us to leave our comfort zone, and we don’t like that.

Most of us would like to roll back the clock to the time before
the anger in us (or someone else) was aroused. Anger is an
emotion the scriptures tell us we must learn to control.
    “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let
      the sun go down while you are still angry,
      (Ephesians 4:26)

Uncontrolled anger can lead to all kinds of other problems
(including revenge, malicious actions to harm something or
hurt someone, gossip, slander, and even murder). It can also
cause health problems for the one who is angry (sleepless
nights, high blood pressure, upset stomach, headaches, etc.).
Some of our anger can be triggered by jealousy and envy.
    What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t
    they come from your desires that battle within you?
    You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet
    but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel
    and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
    (James 4:1-2)

The more we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives,
the more we will see an increase in our gentleness and
a decrease in our propensity for getting angry. This is
why it is important for every believer to pray and ask
the Holy Spirit to become a greater part of their lives.

When realize that God sent the Holy Spirit to help us on a
daily basis, and we invite His Spirit into our lives, we will
discover that:
      – self importance is replaced with humbleness;
      – selfishness is replaced with selflessness;
      – self-centeredness is replaced with concern for others;
   and overall….
      – righteousness will replace unrighteousness in our lives.
        (which won’t happen if we rely on our own strength alone).

What about God and His anger? God can become angry when
He sees those who belong to His family straying away from Him.
God knows the dangers we face whenever we start losing our
desire to fellowship with Him (when it arouses His anger, it
confirms how much He values us and our friendship with Him).

However, when God becomes angry, He has the desire and the
power to reestablish our relationship with Him in the blink of
an eye.
    “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but
      with deep compassion I will bring you back.”
      (Isaiah 54:7)

God has compassion for those who belong to Him, and He has
a kindness that is everlasting. He is our friend, who wants what
is best for us, so it makes sense that He would be angry anytime
something starts to draw us away from Him. We can’t travel two
roads at the same time (one toward a relationship with the Lord
and one toward anything He opposes):
    You adulterous people, don’t you know that
    friendship with the world means enmity against
    God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a
    friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
    (James 4:4)

ACTION:
How is your relationship with the Lord? Have you departed
from your first love for Him (the time when He lovingly gave
you His gift of salvation)? Do you miss your relationship with
Him, or have you become desensitized to the point that your
fellowship with Him is no longer important to you?

How would you respond if someone were to ask you,
    “What changes could you make RIGHT NOW that
      would increase your fellowship with the Lord?”

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank you for valuing my relationship
with You. You are a compassionate, kind, and loving God
who is concerned about me and my fellowship with You.
You are a God like no other, because there are no other
gods but You. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, kindness
and forgiveness. Forgive me if I have allowed things of
this world to shrink my desire to spend time with You.
Teach me what pleases You and guide me away from the
worldly attractions, so I will continue to enjoy my time
with You.”

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