Hot Coal Syndrome – Who’s Really Getting Burned?

Read The Daily:
“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

Post by Johnda Carpenter

I am typically a very optimistic person; therefore, I think people laugh when I say I have anger issues. My own family will tell you that when a line gets crossed, I can lose my temper in a split second. Trent always says that I technically have red hair. Lol. If someone crosses someone in my family and wrongs them, it is so hard to just let things go. I would probably say that most of us struggle in this area.

Several years ago someone was doing some shady stuff that involved one of my kids. I completely let it take over my thoughts and even my life. It was unfair, wrong and I didn’t understand why. What’s sad is that this person didn’t even know that I was mad at them. I got to where I wasn’t sleeping well at night and it was all that I would talk about. I was the one that was obsessed with the situation…not them. Trent, my personal therapist, had to talk me down daily from how angry I was. I shared a quote on facebook recently that really hit me hard.

“You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair!” 

WOW!

Now I just have to learn to remind myself of this quote everytime I decide to let thoughts and people into my head that lead me to living a life filled with anger. Ever held onto anger so long that it started to affect you more than the person you were mad at? That’s because holding onto anger is like gripping a burning coal—thinking it’s hurting someone else, when in reality, it’s just burning you.

We tell ourselves we have a right to be mad. But Ephesians 4 warns us that unresolved anger doesn’t just stay—it spreads. It creates bitterness. It rewires our perspective. It’s like giving the enemy a guest room in our heart. The question isn’t whether anger is justified—it’s whether it’s worth it.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: John 16:16-33 & 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”   John 16:16-33

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not! I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, for now no one can say they were baptized in my name. (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.) For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.  1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: John, 1 Corinthians