Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way.
(ESV)
—Psalm 85
by: Susan Bond.
Pastor Dave Taylor preached a sermon about anger that I’ll never forget. He said, “You have the right to be angry. You also have the right to give up your anger.”
Knowing the life-giving relief I feel when God or one of his people chooses to “give up” his anger against me, I have learned how freeing it is to make that choice when I’m the angry one. I’ve also experienced the supernatural results of praying for my enemies.
Thank you, Jesus, not only for dying for me but also for continuing to pray for me when I’ve made you angry (John 17:20-26, Romans 8:31-34).