Consumed with anger and hate

“Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
    I will pay them back,”
    says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
    If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
    burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

~ Romans 12:17-21

A prayer from thoughtco Kelli Mahoney

Lord, thank you for all you do in my life. Thank you for all you provide for me and the direction you give. Thank you for protecting me and being my strength every day. Lord, today I lift up my heart to you because it is filling with hatred that I can’t seem to control. There are times when I know I should let go of it, but it just keeps grabbing onto me. Every time I think about this thing, I just get angry all over again. I can feel the rage inside me build, and I just know the hatred is doing something to me.

I ask, Lord, that you intervene in my life to help me overcome this hatred. I know you warn against letting it fester. I know you ask us to love rather than hate. You forgive us all for our sins rather than letting us be angry. Your son died on a cross for our sins rather than you allowing yourself to hate us. He couldn’t even hate his captors. No, you are the ultimate in forgiveness and overcoming even the potential for hate. The only thing you hate is sin, but it is a thing, and you still offer up your grace when we fail.

Yet, Lord, I’m struggling with this situation, and I need you to help me. I am not sure I have the strength right now to let this hatred go. I am hurt. It is distasteful. I get distracted by it sometimes. I know it is taking hold, and I know you are the only one strong enough to get me beyond this. Help me go from hatred to forgiveness. Help me walk away from my hatred and temper it down so I can see the situation clearly. I no longer want to be clouded. I no longer want my decisions to be biased. Lord, I want to move on from this heaviness in my heart.

Lord, I know hate is much stronger than just a dislike of things. I see the difference now. I know this is hate because it is strangling me. It is keeping me from a freedom that I’ve seen others experience when they’ve overcome hatred. It draws me into dark thoughts, and it keeps me from moving forward. It’s a dark thing, this hatred. Lord, help me let the light back in. Help me come to an understanding and acceptance that this hatred isn’t worth the weight it has placed on my shoulders.

I am struggling right now, Lord, and you are my savior and my support. Lord, please let your spirit into my heart so that I can move forward. Fill me with your light and let me see clear enough to come out of this fog of hatred and anger. Lord, be my everything at this moment so I can be the person you desire for me.

Thank you, Lord.

In your name, Amen.