What do you do when the temperature gauge shows hot? Would breaking the glass and grabbing the needle and pulling it back down work? Would we not have to stop the car and open the hood to try and determine the cause? When your spouse gets angry, be thankful for the information and work to find out what is wrong and deal with it. If anger is not dealt with, it will destroy a marriage.
Anger is the #1 barrier to communication and agreement.Here are some steps to take:
A. Confess your anger.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “
B. Restrain your response.
James 1:19 “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.”
C. Give up your right to be angry.
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another just as in Christ God forgave you.”
D. Replace anger with love and forgiveness. If you just remove the anger and then do not replace with love and forgiveness you will just play the same record over again later.
Phillipians 2: 1-7 “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”
Remember you are on the same team and you should do NOTHING from selfishness. Is your anger caused by selfishness? Pray for each other.
Luke 6:27-28 “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who mistreat you.”
Ask forgiveness and kiss and make up.