S) "32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city."
Proverbs 16:32 (NASB)
O) It's hard for us to always see how these things work in action. Sometimes, we have to take them on faith, initially, until we start to see the way they work as we practice them ourselves. Being slow to anger will prevent a lot of problems. You can avoid a lot of fights, a lot of strife, if anger is never allowed to well up, or fester. The second half of this is really like the key to the first sentence. Ruling your spirit is basically "self-control," except it's a little more assertive. Sometimes, the idea of self-control can seem a little bit abstract, and it can seem like something that is wholly attained, momentously. The verbiage, "rules his spirit," is much more direct, and gives the impression that the responsibility really is on the individual, and allows that it is more progressive and active.
A) Being slow to anger is not natural, and neither is it easy. It takes a conscious effort, and fighting, against our own spirit. In humility, I need to essentially concede my rights to anger. I need to see, when something sparks anger in me, that the anger is not likely justified. I need to immediately see that there is a spiritual fight (with my own spirit) to lay down my selfishness, pride, and anything else, that might be fueling more anger. In terms of worthiness (how I should view "slow to anger" and "rules his spirit"), I need to keep in mind that the LORD is slow to anger, and the Holy Spirit (as part of the Trinity) moves only by the will of the Father, who sends Him.
A) Being slow to anger is not natural, and neither is it easy. It takes a conscious effort, and fighting, against our own spirit. In humility, I need to essentially concede my rights to anger. I need to see, when something sparks anger in me, that the anger is not likely justified. I need to immediately see that there is a spiritual fight (with my own spirit) to lay down my selfishness, pride, and anything else, that might be fueling more anger. In terms of worthiness (how I should view "slow to anger" and "rules his spirit"), I need to keep in mind that the LORD is slow to anger, and the Holy Spirit (as part of the Trinity) moves only by the will of the Father, who sends Him.
P) Father, simply remind me of how worthwhile these two characteristics are. Remind me how much You exemplify these two traits, and how You are better than any mighty man, and better than he who captures a city. I want to be like my Lord, in every way according to Your will. Help me to continue subjecting my own spirit to my will, according to Your will. Help me, to slow my anger, to carefully examine anything that causes anger in me. Help me to lay my anger down before You, God. In humility, and recognition of Your way, help me to conquer my own spirit, and be slow to anger. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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