EASING
ANGER WITH MEMORY VERSE

Topics: Anger; Change; Growth; Leading of the Holy Spirit; Overcoming; Scripture; Self-control; Temper

References: Psalm 37:8; Proverbs 14:7; 29:11; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Matthew 5:22; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8; James 1:19–20

As a new Christian, I was working through Colossians. The Holy Spirit caught my attention with Colossians 3:8 (NLT): “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.” I tried to slide past the verse, but the Spirit kept bringing me back to the words “get rid of anger.”

I had a violent temper. Whenever it flared, I’d haul up and bash my fist into the nearest door. Even though I often bloodied my knuckles and had once smashed a beautiful ring my wife had given me, I couldn’t seem to stop. Yet here was God’s Word saying, “Get rid of anger.” This wasn’t just advice given to the people of Colossae centuries ago. It was God speaking to me.

So I made a covenant with God. I promised him I would work on my anger. My first step was to memorize Colossians 3:8 and review it daily. I then asked the Lord to bring this verse to mind whenever I might be tempted to lose my temper. And I asked my wife to pray for me and remind me of this verse if she saw me failing in my promise to the Lord. In time, that text became a part of my life. Gradually the sin of anger lost its grip on me.

—Leroy Eims, The Lost Art of Disciple Making (Zondervan, 1978)