Resolving Anger: The Proverbs Series

As I blogged about a few days ago, on February 15th EatingDisorderHope.com is giving away 10 copies of my book Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Your Anger. For a preview of what to expect, here’s a blog series I ran a few months ago featuring excerpts from the book.

RESOLVING ANGER: THE PROVERBS SERIES

Calming Quarrels (Proverbs 15:18)

Proverbs 15:18 — “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” Anger can produce a state of heightened anxiety and watchfulness. Anger can distort events and twist them into unintended shapes. Anger keeps you hot-tempered and itching for a fight, so much so that your attitude actually stirs up dissension. Being patient, however, is said to calm a quarrel. When you are able to turn your anger over to God, you are able to patiently wait for him to exact justice for you. Being patient keeps you calm and better able to realistically assess a given situation. Being calm leaves room for grace.

Fighting Fairly (Proverbs 17:14)

Proverbs 17:14 — “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” Nowhere is this truer, I think, than in working with couples. If both people have unresolved relationships, starting a quarrel between them unleashes a torrent of hidden issues….

Protection or Destruction? (Proverbs 17:19)

Proverbs 17:19 — “He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.” There are women I know, probably women you know, who love a good argument. It seems they like nothing better than to fight about nearly everything. If you are one of these women, you know deep down how much satisfaction you get out of unleashing your temper….

Driving Out the Mocker (Prvbs 22:10)

Proverbs 22:10 — “Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.” Did you know that you have a “mocker” inside your head? This is that negative voice you’ve read about that puts you down and devalues you. This voice is fueled by all the false, destructive, and unkind things said against you and things done to you. When this voice says you are not lovable, it mocks the truth of God’s love for you….

The Battle Belongs to the Lord (Prov. 26:17)

Proverbs 26:17 — “Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.” Every one of you has been damaged by a sin in your life — your own sin and the sins perpetrated against you. You are a casualty of a war raging. This war takes place in your life but also in realms beyond your comprehension….

Avoiding Gossip (Prov. 26:20)

Proverbs 26:20 — “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Become aware of what sort of fuel incites your anger. Learn to be discerning. Refrain from indignation and umbrage at unsubstantiated rumors and gossip. Not only is this sort of behavior destructive, it often diverts you from your own work of reflection and recovery….

Two to Tango (Prov 26:21) 

Proverbs 26:21 — “As coal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.” An old saying is that it takes two to tango. If you insist on being a quarrelsome person, you will find a willing partner; you are sure to find plenty of opportunity to kindle strife….

Click here for details on how to enter the book giveaway.