Prepare Our Hearts

Allowing your anger to control you is allowing Satan to master you. Who wants to be mastered by the enemy of God? Satan literally sets his sights on us, and waits for the opportune moment to strike. Why do we give him a victory?

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

God tells Cain, to be careful of his sin which was anger. He warns him about the way sin works, it will master you. How many days do I allow my anger, my disappointment, my broken heart to rule me? For years, since 2008 and even as a little girl I wanted to move to a 3^rd world country to work among the impoverished. Though I long for this, my husband does not always have it on his radar screen. He is busily providing for our family, securing us with his 9-5 and finding activities to do around the house. This has driven a wedge between us. I’m excited for global missions and he’s on a mission to stay put. It can be a heart-breaker to long for something someone else doesn’t yet see. Having to trust in the midst of the situation can either lead to anger, frustration and brokenness or greater faith in God’s plan that I cannot see.

At one point I really felt that I laid it all back on Jesus’ big shoulders, for Him to carry. Yet there are these days where I try to carry it around. It’s probably like Cain, I could take it all to God but I choose to let it fester in my heart. Oh God, I cry out to you, do not let my sin become my master! You are my master!

Genesis 4:4-7 NEB

The day came when Cain brought some of the produce of the soil as a gift to the Lord; and Abel brought some of the first-born of his flock, the fat portions of them. The Lord received Abel and his gift with favour; but Cain and his gift he did not receive. Can was very angry and his face fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you so angry and cast down?

If you do well, you are accepted;

If not, sin is a demon crouching at the door.

It shall be eager for you, and you will be mastered by it.’

We all know the rest of the story, Cain leads his brother out to the second location and hits him on the head with a fatal blow. God then hears the blood of Abel calling out to him from the ground! God banishes Abel from any good thing and sends him off to make it alone.

Listen to what my favorite commentator says about Cain’s anger:

“Cain was so angry he could not be talked out of his sin- even by God. Eve, however, had to be talked into her sin by Satan; but Cain “belonged to the evil one” (1 John 3:12). It is as if he count not wait to destroy his brother – a natural man’s solution to his own failure. God’s advice was that if Cain would please God by doing what is right, all would be well. But if not, sin would be crouching (“robes” is used here in the figure of a crouching animal) at his door, ready to overcome him. Sin desires to have Cain (these words show Gods interpretation of “desire” the same Heb. Word, in Gen. 3:16), but Cain could have the mastery over it. Here is the perpetual struggle between good and evil. Anyone filled with envy and strife is prey for the evil one.” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary. P.34)

“Oh Lord, do not allow the envy, strife, and anger to fill me. Instead You fill me. Let me be overflowing with your love and grace, even when I am wounded and uncertain. Stitch me back together with extra healings of your peace I pray!! Do not let anger have the best of me. I am Your child and I long to please You, my Master! Amen.”