Enemy of Family Success. Part 2

Enemy of Family Success. Part 2

 ANGER is a strong feeling of annoyance and hostility.  It is human to get angry at one time or the other but it becomes inhuman when you allow the feeling to take over you or your sense of reasoning, thereby leading you to sin.  God’s Word in Ephesians 4:26 says: Be angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.  This means that if you are angry, do not let it lead you into sin by nursing your grudge.  Don’t let the day end with the anger still in you; get over it quickly.  When you hold on to anger, you open the door to sin.

If you get upset about the way your spouse does certain things at certain times, instead of exploding and speaking cruel words which can cause irreparable damage, control your emotions and take a walk or go to the prayer closet, until your anger simmers down.  Anger is like a kettle of boiling water and as long as the fire is on, the water will boil faster.  To cool the water, you need to turn off the source of fire, place the kettle on a cool surface and give it time to cool down.  When this is done, the water that was formerly boiling will become cool enough even to drink.

Some other people try to suppress anger.  They get angry but they swallow it, pretending that everything is all right and plaster a smile on their faces.  They are like bottles of Coca-cola; once it is shaken and the lid is opened, the liquid rushes out in torrents.  Bottling up anger is very risky, and an explosion is only a matter of time.

You can let off steam by discussing the issue at a right time or better still, pray to God about it.  Tell God exactly how you feel and allow Him to speak peace to you.  Anger kills.  A good example of this is found in Genesis 49:5 & 7 which says: Simeon and Levi are brethren… cursed by their anger, for it was fierce and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.  Anger also, is a higher level of foolishness as stated in Ecclesiastes 7:9: “…Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools!  It has the same consequences as murder (Matthew 5:22).  Anger must be dealt with, if you want to avoid the shame that division and scattering brings to a family.  Anger puts asunder faster than fornication.  Learn to control yourself!

BITTERNESS starts from very little things that might have caused you hurt by any member of your family and you refuse to forgive and forget.  Every time you remember the incidence, you are hurt all over again.  Watch it!  That is a root of bitterness springing up gradually.  It will eventually lead to trouble, if it is not nipped in the bud.  Hebrews 12:15 says: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you and thereby many be defiled.  Once bitterness gains access into your heart, it will magnify itself and begin to dominate you.  You lose your rest to troubles, malice and disagreements.  If you are bitter against your spouse for instance, when he or she is in the parlour, you will want to be in the bedroom; there is usually no rest within you.

Bitterness blocks every access to God’s blessings upon you and your family.  It seeks to steal and frustrate the grace of God from you.  It is an unholy act that robs you of God’s holy presence and usually, has the price as unforgiveness.  The Bible says: Let all bitterness… be put away from you, with all malice (Ephesians 4:3). To do this, you must forgive those who have offended you, forgive and forget completely so that you can live a peaceful and burden-free life.  The principle of instant forgiveness has helped me a great deal.  My husband and I practise it and it has paid off for us.  It pays to forgive!

There was a lady who after a decade of marriage decided that her marriage was a thorn in her flesh.  She packed out of her home and filed for a divorce.  However, in the process, she got born again and after reading my book, Marriage Covenant, and some other anointed books, she discovered she had been living in self-righteousness, bitterness and unforgiveness towards her husband. After this discovery, she forgave him and God miraculously healed her marriage.  In her own words, she is having a honeymoon now.  Honour and joy were restored once more.