29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
17 A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated.
29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
28 Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
13 A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
The man who fears God will avoid all [extremes].
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
“We don’t have to let our emotions rule us. I’ve learned the peace of God can transform our pain. I never found relief in begging, demanding, or scolding God. I only found relief in prayers oftrust. This kind of prayer meant I had to turn over my problems to God. It was the only way to make a difference in my difficulties. I’ve discovered that the prayer of trust is the real prayer of faith.” Linda Evans Shepherd
“Her example was the antithesis of complaining, that ‘woe is me’ tendency to grouse, grouch, and grumble. Complainers are usually contentious instead of content, tear down instead of building, and wear others out emotionally. A complainer’s lack of contentment is often caused by a tendency to compare themselves to others. Complainers are often people who relive ugly situations and perceived injustices over and over in their minds. They are unwilling or unable to let past events or hurts go. Complainers keep reloading their minds with negative thoughts and often live in depression, despair, or darkness. Pastor Harry Reeder puts it like this, ‘Selfish, self-absorbed, self-centered people are despairing, despondent, and depressed.’” Donna Evans
“You see, we all have what Paul Tripp calls ‘Gospel amnesia.’ We (probably) know the truth; we just don’t allow the truth to set us free, to quote Jesus. We have to remember that every hardship in life and ministry—marriage conflicts, parenting questions, financial struggles, fear of the future, loss of vision or focus, divisiveness in leadership, etc.—is an opportunity to apply the gospel. Even saying it like that is wrong. We don’t “apply the gospel” to the issues of life, as if it was a mathematical formula. The gospel is not a principle to master or a procedure to follow. The gospel is life. It is how we live life as a believer. It is how we relate to ourselves, to God, and to each other. The Scriptures put it like this: “The just shall live by faith” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). The just, the righteous, the people of God, live only by faith. We don’t live by effort or insight or emotion; we live by faith in the work of Another, and his name is Jesus.” Dr. Tom Wood
… “The fact of the matter is that we cannot cast off restraint, run riot, please ourselves and be completely hedonistic without a price having to be paid. The human price is the destruction of relationships; the spiritual price is a breach with God.” John Blanchard
“Worry is the great robber of peace and joy. What has it ever done for us except to make us miserable and steal away our valuable time? Can we really afford to give in to its far-reaching destruction? If we are a child of the King, if it is true that God is our loving Father and that all of His promises are for us and “yes” in Jesus, then what do we have to worry about? He bestows on us the peace that passes understanding and through His power we can prevent emotions from controlling our lives. ” BHY
“A person who has an undisciplined spirit or no self-control is like a city without walls. He or she is open to enemy attack at any given moment. When we fail to exercise a spirit of self-control, the wild animals of jealousy, rage, frustration, gossip, bearing a false witness, and more can enter our lives easily and unopposed. A lack of self-control is Satan’s way of preparing us for destruction. However, you do not have to fall victim to the enemy’s schemes. You have all you need to stand firm in your faith. God is the one who strengthens you. When you fall in battle and cry out to Him, He rushes to your side and lifts you up.” Michael Youssef
“No one is brought to life through curses, gossip, accusations, or blaming. There is so much taking place around us all the time. And it calls forth only darkness, destruction, and death.” John Piper
“He will keep your heart at peace, even amid your busy life.” Cathe Laurie
“Christianity is more than going to heaven when you die; it’s about dying with Christ now — so you can live now. Christianity is more than performing a good life —- it’s about Christ performing an entirely perfect life for you — so you can live the abundant life in its entirety. Christianity is more than going through the motions — it’s about letting Christ touch the heart of your emotions — and going through life with Him. It’s time to check behind the cheap frame of things — because it turns out: A life of faith may not be what you think — or what most people live. It’s infinitely more.” Ann Voskamp
“Who among us does not need grace? Who among us does not long for merciful loving-kindness? Who among us does not need forgiveness? Every morning get up and teach yourself the Gospel – we all are sinners in need of a Savior – and be ever so thankful that we have One.” BHY
“When we let our fears and anxieties dominate our emotions and behaviors, peace will seem out of reach. This will remain true as long as we seek peace in our own strength. Where do you seek peace? In striving for perfect, conflict-free relationships? In knowing you have more money than you could possibly need? In feeling accepted by those around you? But peace can only come from God’s righteousness working within us. No person can have peace apart from a daily filling of the Spirit of God.” Michael Youssef
“Feelings are meant be fully felt and then fully surrendered to God. Pain begs to be felt—or life will beg you to feel not one emotion at all. Emotion means movement — and emotions are meant to move you toward God.” Ann Voskamp
“The part of the story that made all the difference—and the part that continues to take the ordinary and pain-filled minutes and turn them into potential—is that I brought my emotions and my wrestling to the Word of God. Your eyes watched every minute. You held me with those eyes. Not one of my minutes goes unwitnessed by You, God. Bareness before God shows up in unexpected places, in the everyday chaos of life. In the middle minutes.” Sara Hagerty
“Since ‘The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure’, it is wise for us, like King David, to pray: ‘23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.’ (Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV). And, also like King David as well, allow ourselves to have friends like Nathan who are willing to tell us the difficult things so that we may change and no longer be on the path of destruction. All sin leads to death of something. Just saying…” BHY
“Give me a hundred men who love God with all their hearts and fear nothing but sin, and I will move the world.” John Wesley