Lifebit

From Fresh Outlook Magazine

Sometimes what you do speaks so loudly…

that what you are saying goes unheard.
I John 3:18

Great Scriptures to Meditate on this week from the Message Bible!

From Fresh Outlook Magazine

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Matthew 6:33

The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.
Proverbs 29:25

But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
Hebrews 10:39

My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood - in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
Isaiah 32:18

The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.
I John 4:21

When Love Drives, the Devil Cannot Ride

Bishop Keith Butler

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Ephesians 4:26 (KJV)

Have you ever said something in anger that you wish you simply had not said? After you thought about it you said, "That was dumb. I shouldn’t have said that."

Well, anger will cause your love clothes to be loosed. Acting in anger is like putting on grimy garments. But since the love of God has been placed on the inside of you, you can avoid anger. Instead of being driven by anger, you can let love take over the driver’s seat and kick out the devil and the anger he brought with him.

What happens when anger shows up? It comes to drive you to sin. A flash of anger may come your way, but don’t let it control you, and definitely don’t let it drive you to sin. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath."

Now he is not saying that you can be angry until sundown. The scripture is saying that you cannot allow anger to dwell in your heart any length of time. Recognize anger and put it away from you quickly, lest you say something or do something that you will regret. Do away with anger by operating in the love of God. Let love drive your words and actions. Consequently, there will be peace and quietness in that situation.

You can control anger. Someone may say, "I’ve always had a short fuse. That’s just my personality." But your personality is found in the word of God. And when you yield to the love of God on the inside of you, a godly personality comes forth. Love takes over and anger cannot control you, you control it. Let love drive anger out by forgiving and showing mercy according to Colossians 3:13 (Amp.), “Be gentle, and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord h as [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].”

When you yield to the love of God that is shed abroad in your heart, you can get along with anybody. The moment someone comes against you, love comes from your heart and out of your mouth. It erases that unpleasant feeling of anger and allows God to bring peace.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:26

Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. Bishop Butler ministers extensively in churches, conferences, and seminars throughout the U.S. and abroad with an emphasis on instruction and no-nonsense, practical application of God's Word. Click here to read more!