A recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll found that 70 percent of Americans are angry because they think our  political system is not working for them.  I must confess that I find it difficult to hear or read some media reports without anger rising within me. We are in turbulent times. Anger and anger-induced violence are rampant across our nation. There were 32 mass killings by firearms in the United States in 2019. Indeed a spirit of anger has been released over America, creating a volatile atmosphere.  Biblically, God’s anger is against sin, but motivated by love. For His desire is to protect His seed. However, unredeemed human anger opens up a portal of agreement with the enemy. We must not allow anger to rise up in us, because, in anger we are giving place to the devil. (see Ephesians 4:26-27) As Believers in Christ, we have all authority over the enemy (Luke 10:19), but we can’t cast out what we are in agreement with. And so we find that the enemy uses our unredeemed anger against us by using our authority to advance his agenda. Consider this PICTURE:  70 percent of Americans are angry – that means that the devil has legal access to do his work through those open portals… and so violence has become a national crisis.

What is the answer?

As we carry the Spirit of Christ, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6), our presence subdues anger. We must not react from our emotions, but respond from compassion and love. Indeed, “a soft answer turns away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1) As we walk in forgiveness and love, and we speak/release SHALOM wherever we go, LOVE will displace and dis-empower anger and all of its children, including fear, guilt, and rejection.  You remember when Jesus was in the boat with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during the storm? He did not come in to agreement with their fear – so he could speak with authority to the storm.

Beloved, the enemy is using our anger against us – even our anger against evil…. we MUST get this…. and come in the opposite spirit.  Let’s agree that we will NOT give any place to the devil or come into agreement with him through our thoughts and emotional responses.  Let us instead have these PRAYERFUL responses:

• Repent for any and all anger you have held against any situation or any person/people. Ask the Lord to help you to respond in LOVE and compassion that will dis-empower anger when you feel anger rise up in you.  DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER. (Ephesians 4:26)
• Ask the Lord to release His SHALOM over the nation, over hearts fraught with fear, anger, and retribution; and minds captivated by hatred, suspicion and wounds of the past.
• Ask the Lord to release His SHALOM that subdues chaos, and brings a spirit of UNITY over houses of government where legislation is being mapped out amidst political dissension.  
• Ask the Spirit of Christ (love and compassion) to rise up within you, and do not come into agreement with anger, fear or condemnation. Instead, rise up in faith and trust in God to fight the battles against evil. (Isaiah 59:17-18) He loves to execute righteousness and justice in the earth! (Psalm 103:6)