Monthly Archives: April 2026

PROVERBS 30 PERSISTENT ANGER LEADS TO DISCORD

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April 20

PROVERBS 30

32 If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,
    or if you have been devising evil,
    put your hand on your mouth.
33 For pressing milk produces curds,
    pressing the nose produces blood,
    and pressing anger produces strife. – Proverbs 30:32-33

PROVERBS 30 PERSISTENT ANGER LEADS TO DISCORD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When one cannot process the reasons for their anger

It will continue to persist and have dysregulated retorts

It may manifest as little annoyances or irritations

And may grow into hidden implosions or immense explosions

The more anger is covertly hidden, the more destructive it is

Its roots get deeper into the heart and destroy the spirit

Do not be foolish to allow the evil devises crafted by the world

Confront your anger by sitting still and meditating on God’s word.

This chapter of Proverbs written by Agur is a reminder of the importance of the word of God as he said in Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.” It is reiterated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when Paul says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Agur warns us to guard our mouths so that no evil will come out of it or no lies that are propagated to distort the word of God. He cautions us to stop devising evil against others and to watch that what we sow, we will also reap.

Agur warns us also about the persistence of anger leading to discord, disunity and eventually breaking down of relationships. He cited very practical ways how consequences follow anything we sow in verse 33. He shows us the inevitability of cause-and-effect relationship between stirring up anger and producing conflict. Barnes’ comment on this verse as “Churning … wringing … forcing – In the Hebrew text it is one and the same word. “The pressure of milk produces curds, the pressure of the nose produces blood, the pressure of wrath (i. e., brooding over and, as it were, condensing it) produces strife.” This is probably why we are told in Proverbs 15:1 that a soft answer turns away wrath while a harsh word stirs up anger. If one continues to use a lot of harsh words, there is surely an expectation of division, disunity and conflict which leads to more heated arguments and broken relationships.

REFLECTION

·       How can we stop anger at its core? Why is it important to do this?

PROVERBS 37 REFRAIN FROM ANGER & WORRYING

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April 19

PROVERBS 37

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 

                                                                          – Proverbs 37:7-11

PROVERBS 37 REFRAIN FROM ANGER & WORRYING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be still before him

There is no more reason for you to worry and fret over anything

Because he is the source of all and Maker of everything

He knows what you need and give only what will make you right

Refrain from worrying about anything; it only reflects mistrust

When you constantly fuss, you are not relying on Christ

Be still and know that the Lord is in control and is your provider

Anxiety and fretting will only lead you to more frustration and anger.

Many people think that worrying is just part of life. Some even think that if you love someone, it is okay to worry about them. But when we worry about something that we don’t have control over, are we not trying to overstep or violate the boundary that God has put between divine and human? We do not see everything that God sees because he is supernatural and we only see the natural. When we worry about our loved ones, are we not forgetting that God loves them more than we do?

Matthew 6:25 says 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  And in verse 34 of the same chapter, Matthew says 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. In 1 Peter 5:7 it encourages us believers to cast all our anxieties upon God because He cares for us. So even if the bible does not explicitly say worry is a sin, it clearly shows a lack of true faith. When we are overly worried and anxious, we are taking God out of the picture who is All-seeing and All-knowing. We are trying to take control of things we have no control over. Isn’t that also a form of idolatry? When we worry, we are trying to solve our issues that sometimes can be used by God for us to lean and depend more on him than on ourselves. It gives us a reminder that we don’t know much, but God does.

REFLECTION

  • Do you think worrying leads to frustration, anxiety and anger? Is it a sin to worry?

PROVERBS 29 A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO ANGER

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April 18

PROVERBS 29

5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

                                                                       – Proverbs 29:5-11

PROVERBS 29 A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you hear flattery given to you, be wary of their traps

They are not honest and they usually expect something back

The fool intends to plot a provocation to get a reaction

Because of their insecurity, they want to elicit argumentation

A foolish person gives full vent to their emotions especially anger

They have no control over their insecurities and their temper.

In these following sayings, Solomon warns us of the flatterer, the evil man, the scoffers, the bloodthirsty and the angry man. He cautions us to be watchful of those who may seemingly shower us with compliments that aren’t really true. They expect something back when they give it to others because it is a platform to get their supply of attention and adoration in payment for such praise they gave you. It is a trap for you to see them as good so they can be given adulation.

Solomon paints a picture of the wicked person. They are never content or joyful. They constantly look for something more than what they already have. They envy others and crave for what they don’t possess, making them so depressed and anxious. The evil person is very discriminating, oppressive and loves to do injustice to other people especially those whom they look down upon or do not live up to their standards.

The scoffers and the bloodthirsty have violent and murderous tendencies making them very dangerous towards anyone. They are always there to kill someone else’s person’s character if not murder them physically. They create much chaos, fear and control to those around them.

Let’s focus on the angry man. You will easily spot them when they are around. They are reactionary and easily provoked with even just a small thing. They want all attention to themselves. They love drama.

REFLECTION

·       Share some insights why you think the angry man gives full vent to their anger.

EPHESIANS 4 EXPRESS ANGER WITHOUT SINNING

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April 17

EPHESIANS 4

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:25-32

EPHESIANS 4 EXPRESS ANGER WITHOUT SINNING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are wronged and abused, be angry but do not sin

Remember that God is your vindicator; be quiet and be still

Look inside your own heart and examine if there is any bitterness

All forms of bitterness can make you react unrighteously

Anger is to be used to expose injustice and oppression

It is never just a form of venting or outward expression

Be on guard and don’t let anyone stir up malice in you

Respond instead of react so you don’t give Satan a foothold.

It seems impossible to be angry and not blow up. We all have a propensity to anger. Because of our inherited sins from Adam and Eve, we became self-centered and pleasure-seeking humans.  Being able to calmly say that you are angry is not an easy thing to do, especially if one doesn’t know Christ. Without the fear of the Lord, we will always follow our human tendencies.

What is the cause of human anger? The root of most anger is pride. We look up at ourselves as the center of the universe and get mad when we don’t get the full attention of those around us. If we were humble like Jesus, we wouldn’t have the inclination to give in to sinful anger.  This is why Jesus became human. Even though he is divine, he gave it up to become human to serve as an example for us to imitate.  According to gotquestions.org this act, often called the kenosis (Greek for “emptying”), demonstrates Jesus’ obedience to God and his role as a servant to humanity, culminating in his death on the cross.

In this letter of Paul to the church in Ephesus, he reminds the believers to get rid of all falsehood and speak only what is true. Even if the truth would anger us or the one we are telling it to, we must be honest about what our convictions are and align it to God’s truth. If we speak of our anger in a gracious manner, we will avoid exploding in rage that may hurt someone else. Even as we confront lies and evil, we still need to follow the humble example of Jesus who was silent all throughout the abuses he received during his passion at Calvary. He was like a lamb, quiet even to the point of being slaughtered.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important not to hold back anger and express it graciously?

ECCLESIASTES 7 ANGER LIVES IN THE FOOL’S HEART

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April 16

ECCLESIASTES 7

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
    so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
    and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

                                                                       – Ecclesiastes 7:5-9

ECCLESIASTES 7 ANGER LIVES IN THE FOOL’S HEART

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The wise are quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to irritation

But the fool does not listen and reacts quickly to slight provocations

If you bring an opinion to the wise, they’ll have open ears to listen

But if you tell the fool anything, they will minimize your viewpoint

If you are easily angered, people see you as foolish and insolent

If you are humble and listen, you will be viewed as wise and prudent.

In these wise sayings from Solomon, we get a comparison of how fools and wise people navigate in this corrupt world we live in. They have two opposite reactions to certain situations. The difference comes from the wise who acknowledge God and the fool who does not believe that there is a God. The bible tells us that God is wisdom and if you fear the Lord, you have wisdom.  You are aware that he is the Maker of all things and he made all humans in his image. Knowing that you are an image-bearer of God gives you assurance and confidence so you have no fears. On the opposite spectrum, the fool denies God’s existence and so he doesn’t know the truth about his creation. He focuses on making himself the creator of all that he desires and that he does what he wants. Now that we see the two opposing beliefs of the wise and the fool, let’s dive into the following verses mentioned here to clearly see what these manifestations are.

In verse 5, we see the importance of listening to the correction of the wise rather than listening to the shallow and empty chatter of the fool. There is nothing that you can gain from the fool’s mouth because they are empty. While the wise will give you solutions or a way out of certain situations that truly works.

Verse 9 clearly differentiates the fool from the wise in how they react to situations and people. The fool quickly reacts and easily gets impatient, frustrated or mad especially when attention is drawn away from them or that they aren’t the hero or main focal point of the conversation. The wise listens and is patient to fully hear and see the bigger picture of the situation. They are teachable and responsive but not reactive. They know how to control their tongues and reactions because they are not focused on their insecurities but have a confidence and assurance that they have nothing to prove.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think anger lives in the wicked and fool’s heart? What makes them angry?

COLOSSIANS 3 ACTS THAT PROVOKE GOD’S WRATH

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April 15

COLOSSIANS 3

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old selfwith its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:5-15

COLOSSIANS 3 ACTS THAT PROVOKE GOD’S WRATH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God chose you as his child, you were granted regeneration

It is not your own doing that you are going through transformation

Jesus took God’s wrath on you so you can now be reconciled with God

Christ gave you a new creation in order for you to walk in humility and love

Through Christ, you can give up habitual sins and have a life of service

The lamb of God took away all your old tendencies to love yourself

So put to death all what is demonic, ungodly, unspiritual and earthly

Humble yourself before the Lord so you won’t provoke God’s anger.

In this letter of Paul to the Colossian church, he wants the believers to walk away from their old life which was already renewed when Christ died for them on the cross. He warns them of the aftermath if they do not put off their old lives and continue living in sin while they claim that they are believers. He gave them a list of that old nature that they so love that stir the wrath of God in their lives. He calls them earthly, in other words, it is a life that follows the world. James talks about this also in 3:15-16 where he talks about human wisdom driven by self-ambition and envy as earthly, sensual and demonic which leads to disorder and evil.

Some of these natural and earthly demonic tendencies that stirs God’s righteous anger are:

·       Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, adultery, fornication, orgies, drunkenness

·       Envy, desires and covetousness leading to idolatry, anger, malice, slander, murder, debauchery

·       Lying to one another, malice, obscene talk, gossip and false beliefs and deception

It is a sad fate to watch our world become so oblivious of what stirs God’s wrath as we participate in these wicked acts. Let us heed Paul’s caution for us to put off all these and put on Christ.

REFLECTION

·       What are we to do with the prevalence of wickedness that stirs God’s wrath as believers?

ROMANS 1 GOD’S WRATH ON SUPPRESSION OF TRUTH

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April 14

ROMANS 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. – Romans 1:18-28

ROMANS 1 GOD’S WRATH ON SUPPRESSION OF TRUTH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you learn more and more about the gospel of truth

You will know the hatred of God towards what is unrighteous

These wicked people may think that they got away with evil

Not knowing that God’s wrath has come upon them already

When they worship the creatures that God created instead of him

They are rebelling against God’s goodness and choosing to sin

When they suppress the truth, they do not acknowledge God

They are saying that there is no God by making their own little gods.

Paul clearly teaches the Roman church the most wicked sins that provoke God’s wrath. It is ungodliness, unrighteousness and suppression of the truth. Paul reminds the believers that the righteous anger of God will inevitably be experienced with these acts. Ungodliness is a disregard for God while unrighteousness is sins against others. Suppression of truth entails exchanging the glory of God for material things, satisfying their pleasures and a life centered on themselves. In the Old Testament, we can physically experience the wrath of God when wicked people were annihilated in a flood and only Noah’s family survived. We saw how the Egyptians were plagued because of their ungodliness and injustice to the Israelites. But in our modern age, many people don’t know that they are already judged while they are still alive. They are left in their foolishness and a debased mind. They live dead and fruitless lives.

REFLECTION

·       What are some ways that God’s wrath is clearly manifested in wicked people?

PROVERBS 25 THE WORLD OF THE DIFFICULT & ANGRY PEOPLE

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April 13

PROVERBS 25

23 The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

                                                                                    – Proverbs 25:23-28

PROVERBS 25 THE WORLD OF THE DIFFICULT & ANGRY PEOPLE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a man continually seeks to gain glorify for himself

He will be oblivious and apathetic to anyone else

He is without self-control like a broken city without borders

He will repeatedly manipulate to have control over others

The angry man pursues to destroy anyone who wouldn’t yield

He becomes much more wicked when he is exposed with his schemes.

In these following verses, we are given a deeper dive to the world of the quarrelsome and angry people. In verse 23, the writer describes a type of difficult and angry people: the gossipers and slanderers. Their malicious intent to destroy other people’s character and reputation are likened to the north wind that brings forth rain. The gossip and character assassinations are likened to the north wind that spreads so rapidly and results in rain in the form of divisions, discords, conflicts and heart-murders. They bring about stormy relational weather in all their relationships. In verse 24, the quarrelsome wife is impossible to live with and the writer says it is better to live on the tip of the rooftop rather than being with his nagging & destructive wife because they make life a living hell as they spew out anger incessantly.

In verse 25, there is a break in the description of these angry and bitter people where good news is likened to those who are patient, wise and prudent people, they give you a break from all the negative toxicity that the difficult and angry people so easily and automatically poison relationships with. It is interesting how verse 26 describes that tolerance and compliance of a wise man to the wickedness shown by these difficult, toxic people can actually corrupt their own thinking and compromise their integrity. This way, the evil man defiles the entire community. Just like Paul instructs the Ephesians in 5:11 that they need not take part in any unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, expose them, verse 27 exposes the self-promotion that proud and wicked people employ to get adulation. Verse 28 describes that their lack of discipline reaps ruin, an anxious & fearful mind and a fruitless life.

REFLECTION

·       How must Christians deal with difficult and angry people as the bible instructs them?

PROVERBS 22 AVOID THE WRATHFUL MAN

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April 12

PROVERBS 22

19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings   of counsel and knowledge,
21 to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways   and entangle yourself in a snare. – Proverbs 22:10-25

PROVERBS 22 AVOID THE WRATHFUL MAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Choose your friends carefully by testing if they are guided by truth

God sets apart his people from unbelievers and lies of this world

The world focuses on self-seeking desires, pleasures and longings

It is different from what is right which centers on God-pleasing

The people of God don’t make a habit of fighting and quarreling

They are guided by the Spirit to live in humility and self-control

Avoid a wrathful man at all cost so you will be free from traps

Or you’ll be bondage to sins of self importance and pride.

These following Proverbs cover trusting the Lord and seeking his counsel and knowledge so that we may recognize what is right and true. But it is important for us to remember that we cannot obtain the wisdom of God without the fear of the Lord which is mentioned in Proverbs 9:10. Without the fear of the Lord, we will not get insight that comes from God’s absolute truth. The world’s knowledge is not wisdom. Many people interchange the wisdom of God with man’s knowledge. They are two different things. Because we are human beings, our knowledge is limited understanding while God’s wisdom oversees all things because he is the author of creation. He has infinite knowledge which we do not possess as humans. So, if we don’t acknowledge God or believe in him, it is impossible for any human being to have the wisdom that only comes from him. Thankfully, we are all so blessed to have access to the word of God. Through Scripture, we learn the truth and if we allow it to guide and give us direction on how to navigate this corrupt world, we can obey it and stay faithful to our Maker.

Let’s focus on the other part of these sayings which has to do with avoiding a wrathful man at all cost so you will be free from the traps that he himself has been stuck in. Verse 24 commands us not to have friendships with angry people, not just for our physical and emotional safety but more for the spiritual threat it poses on our hearts, minds and spirits. When we get close to these people even if we are very mature in our faith, we can still fall into the snares of the devil and open doors for us to learn their ways.

REFLECTION

·       Share some experiences why we need to avoid being friends with angry people.

PSALM 4 BE STILL AND EXAMINE YOUR HEART WHEN ANGRY

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April 11

PSALM 4    

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.4 Be angry, and do not sin;
    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

                                                                                   – Psalm 4:2-8

PSALM 4 BE STILL AND EXAMINE YOUR HEART WHEN ANGRY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are rejected and accused of things you’ve not done

Do not react to those words that are lies against you

Instead, be silent, keep still and know that God is your shield

Do not allow the lies to penetrate deep in your heart or Satan wins

Ponder in your heart while you are quiet in bed, trust in the Lord

It is in Christ that you can dwell in safety and overcome the world.

In this psalm, David runs to God for safety when he was being shamed by his own son Absalom. Sources say that this was written when he was fleeing from him. It seems that he was speaking to his son in verse 2 pleading him to stop spreading all the lies that he continually sought after in order to dethrone his own father and be the king. It seems like there is an actual conversation going on in verses 3-8. David speaks to Absalom, declaring his faith in God that he is set apart from his enemies because he belongs to the Lord and is after his heart. We hear how much trust David had for the Lord. Despite his distress and frustration and anger at what his son is doing, he still sees God’s goodness and protection and promises.

The Lord speaks in verse 5 telling David to offer right sacrifices. What does this mean? I think that what God is referring to here is that he need not retaliate to the rebellion of his son. Instead, he kept silent and did not engage in the provocations of Absalom. He pondered in his heart and relied and trusted his Almighty God. The result of such silence is peace and feelings of safety and calm.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important to be still and silent when you are provoked to anger?