“God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:9)

Anger is not always sinful for saints…only most of the time. Anger is usually a mixture of righteous indignation, soulish pride and the flesh instinct of self-preservation. It’s up to the saint to examine himself with the leading of the Holy Spirit to separate the motivations of his soul versus his spirit (Hebrews 4:12). Because the Old Man always tries to take back control in stressful circumstances, “‘be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-28).

Saints don’t have to be upset when they are falsely accused or mistreated, because they know “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19).

Trials are the way God perfects you. Stay submitted to the Lordship of Christ and ask, “is it right for me to be angry?” The general rule for saints is, while it’s correct to be angry at sin, they need to pray for the sinner to repent, so God will not have to destroy him (Matthew 5:44). Mature Christians are proactive when it comes to anger. When an angry thought or feeling comes, pray for the salvation of the person you are angry with. Do this instantly, perhaps hundreds of times a day. This would mean, sometimes, in order to rise above your anger, you’ll have to “pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).