“It’s hard to be angry when you’re praying.” At least that’s what somebody said last week without any further discussion of the subject. I tend to agree.

Anger is counterfeit power. We resort to it when we don’t like something or we want something to happen and we’re not big enough to bring it about on our own. We express anger to puff ourselves up so we will be bigger and more powerful.

 

Anger and prayer don’t mix well.  Anger arises from self effort, whereas prayer acknowledges a need for help.

When praying, we’re connected to the source of strength and power. We don’t need to make ourselves bigger or to make things happen, because we have a direct line to the One who can take care of it. Indeed, when we’re in His presence, our puffed up attempt to be bigger seems shabby and out of place.

While in prayerful communion with the Lord, we recognize His sovereignty, power, mercy, love, and faithfulness. Our focus is on Him and His goodness. We choose to trust Him, and entrust our need into His hands—including the situation that angered us.

If we spent more time in prayer, would it affect our struggle against anger?

Yes, it’s hard to be angry when you’re praying, but in the midst of a busy life, it’s hard to consciously be in prayer all the time.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, God tells us to “pray without ceasing.” In the same sentence, He also said, “Rejoice always” and “in everything give thanks (vv. 16, 18). If we practiced all three directives, it would surely eliminate anger over trivial matters, such as traffic, and would go a long way toward helping us not become angry.

It would help because all three—prayer, rejoicing, and giving thanks—take our focus off ourselves and turn our eyes toward Jesus. When our eyes are on Jesus, our hearts are filled with joy and thanksgiving, which leads to prayer.

That sounds good, but it’s hard to walk it out consistently. Sometimes it’s really hard. At least for me it is.

I believe that the secret is the Great Commandment. We are to love the Lord our God with all our body, soul, mind, and strength. If we do, if He is truly preeminent in our lives, thankfulness, rejoicing, and continual prayer will flow from that love relationship.

I’m not there yet, but I’ve experienced seasons of close fellowship with God as well as seasons when my life was filled with other things. It is definitely easier to pray without ceasing when walking more closely with the Lord.

His love and care is there all the time, but when we draw near, we’re more open to receiving the Lord, as well as receiving the grace to focus on Him and to love Him in return, thus resulting in less anger.

It is hard to be angry when praying. However, while striving to pray more, one of my primary prayers will be asking the Lord to help me to love Him more—to know His love and to love Him in return.

Through God’s love, we’ll receive the grace to walk in righteousness.

Do you experience less anger when you’re walking closely with the Lord?