What does the Bible say about anger and resentment?

         Do these statements sound familiar?

                                                         - "He/She really 'ticked' me off. I didn't do anything to deserve this.
                                                         - "I am so fed up with this "! %$#*".
                                                         -  "Serves you right. Have a taste of your own medicine!"

        We ALL experience these emotions. Sometimes  this is our first response when someone angers us or does us a wrong. Some say, don't 'get it out" and it will consume you. In one way, that's true. But the reality is, if you don't control your responses to these situations when they occur, they truly WILL consume you! There's a right way and a wrong way to 'getting it out'.

                              "Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret--It only causes harm." Psalms 37:8

When someone wrongs you, maybe steals from you, hurts you, physically or emotionally, the pain is usually so heart wrenching, all we can think about is a 'way to get back'. This is not what Jesus teaches us. This never solves anything.

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Lev. 19:18

        It is hard for us to love one that has caused us harm or pain. But we must strive to take the example of Jesus when He was on the cross after He was beaten, spat upon. Just before He knew they were going to kill Him, He said;

                                        "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." Luke 23:34

This one example is what a true Christian lives for, to Love one another, yes even our enemies. Anger lets Satan get a foothold. He will try and fester this anger within you. If you have resentment in your heart especially toward God, You are making Satan VERY happy. It is what HE exists for; the destruction of our souls. But if you condition yourself to first think of how Jesus would respond, with Love and compassion, asking in prayer for help, this anger goes away or at least prevents an initial wrong response. I tell you this from personal experience, once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, and truly believe,..... this other 'stuff'...... gets easier to deal with. Maybe not at the onset of an issue with someone, but you will 'feel' something 'tugging' at you. I believe this is the Holy Spirit reminding you how a true Christian should respond. You just start to 'think differently' about these kinds of issues and the people that do these things to you. No it's not easy, but it does happen.

        There are numerous verses in the Bible about these things especially in the book of Proverbs. Try reading one Proverb at the start of each day, and see how you're thinking can change.

                          "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." Prov. 6:34

                             "A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1