Take My Anger: A Plea

God, I hate anger. Hate it. Really hate it.

I hate the feelings I notice in the lead up to it. I hate the emotions I sense when dealing with it.

Sometimes, I feel like it gets the best of me.

Scratch that: Sometimes I feel like I let it

get the best of me.

Sometimes, I feel like I let it

rob my day away,

drive in relational wedges,

cause me to lower myself,

to lower my standards,

push me to excuses.

I pray, God, that you would take my anger.

All of it.

Every last bit of it.

Everyone says, "Oh, but it's a natural feeling."

Or, "Oh, but what about 'righteous anger?'"

But, I don't buy it, Lord.

It does me no good. It does no one any good.

When I'm angry, I'm not who I want to be in Christ.

Nothing good has ever come from me being angry.

So, Lord, take my anger. It's not righteous.

That's just an excuse to hang on to it.

That's baptizing something unholy and

trying to make it holy.

Take my anger, God, and transform it into joy.

Transform it into peace, patience, kindness,

Gentleness, goodness, and self-control.

When I'm angry, I have none of those things.

I exhibit none of those.

Instead of the fruit of the Spirit being ripe in me,

When I choose to be angry, I choose to let it rot.

So, please, God, take my anger. Transform it.

Transform me. Spirit, fall fresh and bear your fruit in me.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.