Temper-ature Check

If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it.
Proverbs 19:11 GNT

I’ve struggled with my temper for a good part of my life. If I feel I’ve been wronged, my temper is like a hurricane, tsunami, and tornado rolled into one! So to avoid major drama and the police in my life, I’ve learned to go with the flow. Many of you will be shocked as you read this but my family and close friends have seen “Rerica”, it’s what my college roommates called my crazy out-of-control alter-ego.

My resume of angry outbursts is long and varied. I hit a school police officer in high school. I tried to fight a man in college and tore his shirt (thank God he had more sense than me). I’ve followed people who have cut me off, thrown an entire pan of chicken up against the wall, and I even tried to pull a gun on someone. Thankfully my roommate saw the look in my eyes and beat me to the gun, but the list goes on and on. I’m not proud of this resume, but I want to be transparent in my journey. Each time I felt justified because I was wronged, racially profiled, or mistreated, but it’s not my place to seek revenge. My job is to forgive.

Years ago, God helped me realize several things when I allow someone’s actions to control me negatively: I am weak and out of His will. There is strength and peace in remaining calm and in forgiveness. God also made it crystal clear that I could not reach my full potential with these behaviors.

Maybe you aren’t the raving crazy person I used to be, but maybe you still allow situations and people to control your thoughts and actions. God is clear: If you have sense, you will control your temper and forgive others when they mistreat you. You must decide not to allow the actions of others to take you off your game. Some of my actions had major consequences, but most often God protected me in the midst of my foolery.

Do you allow others to control you? Maybe you aren’t throwing chicken, but maybe you’re throwing insults? Maybe you have a Ph.D. in giving someone the silent treatment. Do you have trouble forgiving others when you have been wronged? Nelson Mandela said that unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

I’m still a work in progress, “Rerica” will still try to surface, but with God’s help I keep her under control.

Ask God to reveal any areas where you need a temper-ature check. Secondly, ask Him to reveal anyone you need to forgive.