18 Prayers for Overcoming Anger, Resentment and Bitterness

Some people’s anger is more evident because they may easily become hot-headed and vocal when upset. Others may seem to have their anger more under control but are privately boiling in anger and resentment on the inside. Whichever one you can relate more to, God’s words regarding anger apply to you.

You might experience anger through a small annoyance that occurs during your day. Or resentment when you have been treated unfairly, or with contempt. It can be especially easy to harbor anger and resentment and build an attitude of bitterness towards people who have hurt us in the past.

When we sit on our anger and allow it to fester, it can grow into resentment, bitterness, and ultimately hatred. These are all things that God calls us to put off, and exchange for forgiveness, peace and reconciliation.

It’s also important to note that Scripture teaches us of an anger that is not wrong. This is called righteous anger.

God’s anger is righteous. We can have righteous anger when we see God or His word being offended. We can also experience righteous anger when we see how poorly others are being treated and we desire to help or stand up for them. This anger does not lead us to act in sinful ways. Instead, it motivates us to make positive changes.

One of the best ways we can work through our battle with anger is through prayer. When we pray to God, we invite Him to change our hearts, our demeanor and our intentions. It no longer becomes about getting even or giving someone a piece of your mind. It becomes about pleasing Christ and doing what He calls you to do.

Our hope is that these prayers about anger will help you to do just that and to grow in your relationship with the Lord, as you become more patient, forbearing, and forgiving.

Anger is a powerful and uncomfortable emotion. So, use these 18 prayers for anger to calm your frustrations and impatience and fight against losing your temper and sinning in your anger.

1. Prayer to overcome anger

Everlasting God, Your peace surpasses all my understanding. When anger rises within me, please calm my mind and soothe my heart with Your gentle words. Fill my whole life with Your perfect peace. May my personality be shaped by Your peace rather than my frustration. With Your Holy Spirit in my life, I can overcome anger. May I reflect Your character, being slow to anger and rich in steadfast love. Look upon me and cause Your face to shine upon me. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

2. Prayer remove my resentment

O Lord, my God, You are my shepherd. You guide me and provide for me. When I start to feel resentment due to the circumstances around me, remind me that You have prepared a table for me and You can give me peace. Your anointing and blessings are upon every aspect of my life.  Remove my resentment and set me free from frustration. May Your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

3. Prayer to calm my anger

Sovereign Lord, bring peace to my mind and my heart as I feel angry at the situation I am in. May I take hold of Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In whatever circumstances I face that produce anger in my heart, remind me that You have not left my side and You never will. When You are with me I can trust You to fight my battles, I do not need to allow anger to take control. Give me Your peace Father, may it rule over my life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

4. Prayer not to sin during anger

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so often tempted to sin when I feel angry. There is this storm that is raging inside of me when I am upset, and at times it feels like it is going to escape and destroy everything in its path. I know that this kind of anger does not please You, or help me at all. Please forgive me for how quickly I can become angry at times. If anyone is entitled to anger, it is You. In our sin, we have created the greatest offensive – sinning against a Holy God. Yet, You have shown us grace and forgiveness. Please help me to become more like You. Keep me from sinning when I am angry. Help me to remain level-headed and to turn to You when I feel myself getting upset. Help me to forgive and make amends, instead of letting the sun go down on my anger. I don’t want to give the devil a foothold because of my anger. Please rid me of all bitterness, rage and anger. Help me to rely on You, instead of my emotions when I am hurt or take offense. In Jesus’ name, amen.

5. Prayer to be wise when you are angry

Father, it’s so hard to think straight when I am angry. There are so many thoughts running through my mind, and I feel as though I am going to do or say something that I’ll regret when I am angry. I realize a lot of it has to do with self-control. When I am angry, it reveals how much I really struggle with self-control. When I allow words to slip during my anger that are intended to be hurtful, I am acting on my anger in a way that dishonors You and others. Please forgive me for the times that I have acted like that on my anger. Your word often compares the one who goes full out on their anger as someone who is foolish. I admit there are times when I act foolishly, even though I know that there is a different way to respond. Please forgive me for the times I have chosen to act foolishly instead of wisely. Help me not to give full vent to my rage, but instead to become wise in my anger. Grant me the strength to walk away and pray to You to help me calm down so I can think soberly. Help me to become wise so that I can bring calm in the end, instead of adding fuel to the flame. In Jesus’ name, amen.

6. Prayer to be set free from anger and bitterness

Loving Lord, I place that anger and bitterness that I too often harbour in my heart at Your feet and pray that in Your grace, You will expose all that is causing the bitter poison that is lodged within my heart to surface so often, and set me free from it. Lord, I confess all my anger and bitterness, and know that when I allow this to surface in my heart it breaks the fellowship we have together. I know that when I confess my anger, You are faithful and just to forgive the outbursts of anger in my heart and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness, for which I praise Your name. But Lord, I desire that I am set free from this pollution within my heart, so that the root of anger shrivels within me. I ask You to examine me and root out all that is not pleasing in Your sight. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.

7. Prayer to be set free from resentment

Mighty God, thank You that You give the gift of abundant, eternal life. May my life be free from resentment and filled with thanksgiving and praise for Your countless blessings. The Bible teaches that You never fail to provide for Your people. Set me free from resentment as I give thanks for Your blessings and am assured that You will continue to generously supply my every need. May grace, mercy, and peace be with me, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son, in truth and love. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

8. Prayer to calm my mind

Almighty and All-Powerful Father, help me feel calm when I become angry. When pressure and conflict make me feel surrounded, remind me that I am surrounded by Your presence.  When You are with me I have no need to lash out in anger. Please remove my anger towards other people and replace it with trust in Your provision and care. May confidence in Your love replace any anger about my circumstances. When I feel angry due to unmet expectations, remind me that satisfaction can be found only in You. May the love of the Father, the grace of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit be with me today. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

9. Gratitude prayer

Father, thank You that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Jesus said that, in the same way, that we like to give good gifts to our children, You also delight to give us good gifts. May I start each day with thanksgiving for Your blessings. May I end each day with gratitude for Your grace. Fill my life with thanksgiving that will free me from feelings of resentment. To You be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

10. Prayer to be slow to anger

Lord, thank You so much for Your word that instructs us on how to live. We truly become wise when we not only read Your word, but listen to it and apply it to our lives. One of the things that You warn us about in scripture is anger. I confess that I have struggled with anger, and I have seen how devastating its effects can be, not only to those on the receiving end, but to myself. I don’t like the person I become when I am angry. I become impatient, and embittered. I know that my behavior and thoughts in my anger are not honoring to You. Please forgive me for the times that I have displeased You in my anger. Help me not be quickly provoked, or quick to take offense. Grant me the ability to be patient with others and to respond in humility instead of anger. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

11. Prayer to not evoke anger with your speech

Father, it’s funny how we can both worship with our lips, and say the most hurtful things using the same tongue. In Your word, You talk about taming the tongue a lot. I confess, it is not always easy for me to tame my tongue. Especially when I am infused with anger. Sometimes the words I say may cause others to stumble and provoke them to anger. Please forgive me for the times when I have been harsh with my words. Help me to give a gentle answer and turn away wrath, instead of stir up wrath. May the words of my mouth not only bring You praise, but be gracious and encouraging to those who hear it. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

12. Prayer for a Peaceful Life

Lord Jesus Christ, angels proclaimed that Your birth was good news of great joy that would bring peace to earth. You are the only enduring source of peace in a world full of anger and frustration. I do not know what will happen in the future, my life is filled with highs and lows that I do not understand. Help me not to sin in my anger. May I have faith in Your peace that will never fail. May Your word refresh my spirit, renew my soul and empower me to live like you. In Your mighty name, I pray, Amen.

13. Prayer to overcome resentment

Heavenly Father, Your supply of wisdom, peace and power never run dry. Please help me as I struggle to overcome resentment in my life. Every part of my life is a gift that demonstrates Your goodness and grace. Without You, I can do nothing. Fill my heart with thanksgiving that it may overflow in praise to You. Help me to experience contentment in the life You have provided for me rather than resentment towards other people. May You establish my heart in purity and holiness before You. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

14. Victory over anger prayer

Faithful God, You made me and You love me. You said that I should not let the sun go down on my anger. As I reach the end of this day, I ask You to replace my anger with a calm mind. Remove my frustration and fill me with faith in You. Help me to bring everything in my life before You. When I am uncertain, help me look to You. Instruct me and teach me, Lord, in the way that I should go and the paths that I should take.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

15. Blessed beyond measure prayer

Creator God, thank You that there is nowhere I can go that is beyond Your presence. As I have started to resent other people, please remind me that, in Your presence, I have everything I need. Rather than words of bitterness, I pray that You would fill my mouth with praise to You for Your blessings beyond measure. May Your love be the passion in my heart, Your joy be my strength when times are hard and Your presence the peace that overflows. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

16. Pursuit of Peace Prayer

Compassionate Father, You are the God of all peace and love. Help me turn from anger and irritation and pursue peace and harmony. The Bible says that words are powerful and I pray that I would speak words of peace instead of anger. May I use my words to build up rather than tear down. When I am under pressure, help me to remain compassionate and gentle. Protect me from sin when I feel angry. Lord, bless me and keep me, make Your face shine upon me. Turn your face towards me and give me peace. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

17. Freedom Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You that, by You, all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible. You experienced righteous anger at injustice and oppression. So often, my anger is selfishly based on dissatisfaction with my circumstances. Please purify my heart from a sinful focus on myself. I pray that my anger would subside and I can live a life of worship to You. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord. In Your powerful name, I pray, Amen.

18. Perfect Peace Prayer

Prince of Peace, thank You that You hear and answer my prayers. Today I come before You as I am experiencing anger and resentment and ask You to bless me with perfect peace. Remove annoyance and animosity from my life and replace them with steadfast trust in You. Fill my heart with compassion instead of conflict, humility instead of hatred and faith instead of fury. Be exalted above the heavens, O God. Let Your glory be above all the earth. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.