The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Anger (01/24/05)
Do you want to know what makes me angry? No, it’s probably not what you think. Sure, America kicks off the one I thought should have won American Idol. Donald fires the one I think had the most promise. Politicians struggle giving a straightforward answer. But that isn’t it. It’s not even the bad luck of not getting that parking spot that I think I’m entitled to. What really gets under my skin and gets me fired up is Christians who don’t believe what God says.
If the Bible was for days of old, then perhaps I could understand why it isn’t held as the Supreme word any longer. But that false is dispelled in Hebrews 4:12. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (NIV) Did you catch that? God’s Word is living and active. So it isn’t for just the old time saints and preachers of the past. But why do we not take God at His word? Let me illustrate this question for you.
When a person sins, he breaks relationship with God and, therefore, places a wall of separation between God and himself. The only way for this wall to come down is by confessing our sins. Then, because God is faithful, the sin is forgiven and the person is cleansed. This is the truth of I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) But why do we walk around after being forgiven with the same shame, guilt, and downtrodden look as when we were involved in the sin? We are not taking God at His word. Our continence is no different while in the sin as is when we are forgiven of our sin. According to Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (NIV), God has a case of amnesia. How ironic that what we cannot forget, God cannot remember.
Or how about this instance? The person who frets whenever situations are tough and always feels as though it is sink or swim with no help from God. Is this person taking God at His word? Moses was a classic example of how we are supposed to live. When finding himself in a situation that he was unsure of, he called out to God. He obeyed God and took His words as if life depended on it. And Moses recorded for us the same instruction He received from God. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV) But how many times are we so quick to think ourselves stranded on an island alone?
These are the things that cause anger to arise in me. These are the battles that I fight within myself. I am the one who forgets God’s word and replaces it with lies. After confessing my sins, I walk around still full of guilt and condemnation even though I have been forgiven and made righteous again. And I am the one who sees the Red Sea in front of me and instead of believing God and obeying Him, I fret and panic and become sure that He has left me alone.
But the voice of truth, God’s truth, needs to become what I hear. His word assures me that I am not forsaken, forgiven, loved, adopted, blessed, and made righteous, to name a few. His truth about me is that I have the mind of Christ and can do anything through his strength. When will I lay aside my false representation of myself and pick up his truth about me? I know that when I do, my anger will be laid to rest, for the lies will cease.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 853 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sally Hanan
02/03/05
It would have read better if the anger was only directed at yourself, but then again, we tend to judge others the most for what we judge to be the worst characteristics in ourselves. A few spelling mistakes.
Suzanne R
02/05/05
In 2003, Australia got THE best Australian idol - I fully agreed. But 2004 was really weird here. The judges were fine ... it was the people whose voting was bizarre. That's my 10c worth. A good opening example because it hooked those of us who are 'Idol' followers! If you ever get the chance to listen to our 2003 idol, Guy Sebastian, you're in for a treat! No anger there.
Debbie OConnor
02/05/05
I like this article, but I agree with one of the comments you received that it would have read better if the anger had been directed at yourself throughout instead of being generalized at all Christians.

If you put a space between your paragraphs you will gain more readers. It is a turn off to see so many words bunched together.

My favorite line, "how ironic that what we cannot forget, God cannot remember." Overall a very strong entry.