15 Scriptures for the Parent who Struggles with Anger
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, 5 Self-Control Strategies for the Christian Parent, you must speak truth to yourself. You must renew your mind with the Word of God. The Bible clearly tells us that we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind. (Romans 12:2)
So if you struggle with anger or speaking unkindly to your children, here are 15 scriptures that you ought to memorize. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:9, 11)
The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to guide you in the way you ought to go. How can he do that if you have not first filled your mind with Scripture?
1. Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
2. Proverbs 29:20, 22
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”
3. Psalm 141:3
“Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips”
4. James 1:19-20
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
5. Proverbs 21:23
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”
6. Proverbs 16:32
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
7. Romans 6:12-13
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”
8. Colossians 3:8
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
9. Romans 13:14
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
10. Ephesians 4:22-24
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
11. Colossians 3:12-15
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
12. Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
13. Proverbs 14:29
“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly”
14. Ephesians 4:22-27; 29-32
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
15. James 1:26
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”
This post is part of the Parenting with Gentleness series.