“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” – Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV
Shane and Patty had a rule in their house that no one went to bed angry. They encouraged their children to work out their differences and speak love to each other every evening before bed.
It was a habit that started in the early days of Shane’s and Patty’s marriage. After the newlyweds had a big fight one evening, they woke the next morning still angry at the other. Neither one of them would say, “I love you” on their way out the door.
When Patty went to work, she was in a major car accident. All she could think about as she waited for paramedics to come for her was the fight with her husband.
Shane met his wife at the emergency room, and they both pledged from that moment forward, they would never go to bed angry, without working out their differences.
Think about sticking your foot by a door to prevent it from closing. You create a foothold so that you can enter the room. The same principle applies here – when Christians don’t practice forgiveness freely, they leave themselves open to sin. Then Satan can easily get a “foothold” in the door of their hearts.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to let go of my anger with my loved one. I don’t want this to become a foothold for Satan. When I’ve been wounded, show me how to forgive and extend mercy. When I’m at fault, show me how to humble myself and beg forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
