Dealing with Anger

[elizabethevangeline]

My brother recently talked to me about how angry he is "all the time". Lack of control/frustrated goals is the root cause we actually discussed (I teased that he was mad he wasn't God). I would like to be able to seriously encourage him from a more Orthodox mindset.

He is not a believer, he is not open to being "preached" at. We grew up evangelical/baptist so that is the theology he is familiar with.

How do I talk about peace, contentment, forgiveness, acceptance, honoring others, etc, with someone who doesn't want to hear about the source of these attributes?

Any thoughts or suggestions? reading material?

Did someone post a link to saying of the Fathers re: anger recently?

Thanks,
ee

 

[elizabethevangeline]

Anger is by nature designed for waging war with the demons and for struggling with every kind of sinful pleasure. Therefore angels, arousing spiritual pleasure in us and giving us to taste its blessedness, incline us to direct our anger against the demons. But the demons, enticing us towards worldly lusts, make us use anger to fight with men, which is against nature, so that the mind, thus stupefied and darkened, should become a traitor to virtues. Abba Evagrius the Monk(Texts on Active Life no. 15)

I found the link to the saying of the Fathers re: anger.

My brother isn't motivated by being more godly, but I think I can find some thoughts there he may connect with...he believes in demons.

I would still appreciate hearing your thots.

 

[Knowledge3]

I believe that demons exist also.

 

[Knowledge3]

Any thoughts or suggestions? reading material?

[BIBLE]Proverbs 15:1[/BIBLE]

 

[PrincessMommy]

You should live you life and try to become like Christ. Allow Christ to shine through you.

If he doesn't want to be preached at, then don't even consider it. If he wants what you have then he'll ask.

 

[MariaGatchina]

Demons do exist - I have dealt with them in my own life and am as we speak dealing with them. They come to do damage and steal our joy but we must not give them the time or attention. Ask him to divert his attention from the bad and focus each day on specific "Happy" goals. At first write a list of things to accomplish today, then in a few weeks write a list of daily and weekly things to accomplish and so on. It will help build confidence and the lack he is so frustrated with will go away.

Currently, I am dealing with only daily goals because of what I am going through. 2 months ago I was dealing with yearly goals ... it isn't a bad thing, just a test to get through and move past. Something to make us stronger.

Maybe invite him to services with you ... he may be touched by God while there and decide to come back. I am happiest in church.

God Bless