TAMING A TEMPER

Bobby Jones began playing golf at the age of five. At twelve, he was able to defeat any golfer in his hometown. But he had a major problem: he had a hot temper that caused him some serious problems.

When he was fourteen, he entered the National Amateur Tournament. He had high expectations of winning but he lost this very prestigious event because of his temper. After things settled down, his “Grandpa Bart” went to him and said, “You’re good enough to win. But you’ll never win until you control your temper.”

Later in life, when Bobby Jones became a world-famous golfer, “Grandpa Bart” said, “Bobby was fourteen when he mastered golf. But he was twenty-one when he mastered himself.”

“Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over youfor anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil.”

We often become angry when someone does something that displeases us. It can be as simple as someone having too many items in a checkout line at the grocery store or as large as a trusted friend breaking an important promise or causing us embarrassment. The causes vary but the result is always the same: the devil is given a “mighty” foothold in our lives. And that always opens the door to bitterness and resentment that will destroy us and damage others.

Prayer:  Help us, Heavenly Father, to conquer our tempers and tongues that quickly get out of control when we are threatened or tested. May we be helpful, not hurtful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today:  And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Ephesians 4:26-27