Taking a breath when anger/rage is crouching at your door

Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. Genesis 4:7

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Lord, please help me to know what this situation is about and whether or not it actually poses a threat…

Even if it does pose a threat, help me to remember that I have the armor of God to protect me and You Yourself will be my fortress, shield and defender…

Help me to remember that even in the face of a threat or feeling out of control or attacked that I do not have to malign the person in front of me or lash out at them in a reckless or uncontrolled way.

With Your help Lord, may I remember that I do not have to be unkind, short-tempered or in any way fleshly, carnal, worldly, selfish or wicked.

In fact, with Your help Lord I can even love my enemy and pray for those who persecute me. Even what Satan has intended for evil You can use for good. In the midst of this situation that threatens to shake me within and upend my life (even temporarily) You are present. I can listen without reacting, I can process and pray about and consider their words and their actions without immediately lashing out to make them stop saying/doing something that I don’t like.

Lord help me to practice long-suffering and to let Your perfect-patience be at work in me.

The next time that something happens or that someone says/does something and anger shows up at my heart’s door like a rage-filled lion trying to come in and devour me (or devour others through me) may I recognize that I can keep the door closed to rage and instead pause, wait, pray, listen to You, meditate on what You say about it and then respond out of the peace and calm you have placed in my heart and the wisdom You give by Your Spirit and Your Word, so that what transpires is beautiful and gives glory to Your name.

Lord, may rage not have a foothold in me and may I not slay people with my reactions (whether looks, words or attitudes) but instead graciously listen and prayerfully, mercifully and lovingly respond. May even those who hurt me, surprise me or attack me, feel the gentle wind of your love flow from me to them.

IN JESUS NAME,

AMEN