Space in Your Soul

“Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV)

Paul is writing about a common emotion in the human experience. Anger is called a secondary emotion because it usually sparks into a blazing fire from the kindling of unmet expectations, injustice, disrespect, or frustration. Anger, in itself, is not always a sin. There are two factors in anger that can qualify it as a sin. First, the cause of the anger may already be a sin or not. Second, the way that you react to that cause may be a sin or not.

There are legitimate reasons to be angry and these are demonstrated in the Bible. However, most of the reasons why you are angry are probably not Biblical reasons for anger. James says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 (ESV). Often people justify their anger by looking for positive results. However, using anger to control people or an outcome is manipulation and is not godly. If you’re prone to anger, think carefully about why you’re angry and how you’re acting out in anger. If either of those are sinful, you must stop yourself and use self-control.

In Ephesians 4:26-27, Paul says to deal with your anger immediately because anger is an emotion that creates space inside of you for the devil. The Greek word for “place” in verse 27 means a physical space like a room or a home. When you are angry for the wrong reason or in the wrong way, you create a space inside of your soul where demonic spirits can attack you. This is why Paul says that you should consider your anger and make sure that you are not sinning, especially by being angry for a long period of time.

What is the root cause of your anger? Is it bitterness because of unforgiveness of a trauma in your past? Is it unmet expectations that require you to either give grace or change your expectations? Is it a feeling of inadequacy or rejection? When you feel angry, look inside of your soul to see why you’re angry. Anger creates a space and inside of that space you will find a soil full of roots. Where did those roots come from? Why are they there?

To have a soul that is not infected by sinful emotions, you must work at identifying why you’re angry. Are you trying to control others? Do you have a spirit of control living inside of that space in your soul? Are you angry because you’re being disrespected? Do you have a spirit of rejection hiding inside of that small space in your soul? Are you bitter because of injustice? Are you agreeing with a spirit of bitterness or injustice? In spiritual warfare, there can be two attackers that try to gain access to you through your anger: a spirit of anger and a spirit of the root cause. This is why the writer to the Hebrews says, “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV).

Anger and bitterness spread quickly because they are spiritual in nature, providing a spiritual space for demonic oppression inside of those who agree with them. Instead of being angry and bitter, fill your soul with holiness. Work at living a holy life. Garden your emotions and dig out the sinful roots. God’s grace has already given you the good soil in your soul and your Gardener is waiting to partner with you in producing fruits of righteousness. Fill your soul with godly emotions and holiness. Work to make your soul a reflection of Christ’s thoughts, will and emotions. As you fill up your soul with worship, joy, forgiveness, trust, hope and love, you will find that living in grace leaves very little room for the devil.

Prayer: “Dear Heavenly Father, Search inside of my soul to find if I have any hidden places where sin is hiding. Show me is there are any evil spirits that need to be cleaned out. I want my soul to be filled with Your presence, Your emotions, and Your holiness. In Jesus’s name, amen.”