Patience is sometimes misunderstood. Many think that it is just sitting and waiting, but exercising patience takes work and sometimes great self-control.

We must ask ourselves if we have allowed fleshly works to creep into our lives. A little civility could go a long way in restoring unity among God's people.

Emotions, including fear and anger, are a gift from God, but we must use them responsibly. Uncontrolled emotions can keep us from the Kingdom of God.

Americans have a high regard for free speech. God, on the other hand, shows little tolerance for incessant grumbling, complaining, murmuring, or rebellion.

Righteous anger is controlled, short-lived and unselfish, while unrighteous anger is uncontrolled, selfish, hard-hearted, and likely to foster bitterness.

As God's chosen saints, we must not let our keyboard or mouth defile us. Godly conversation includes stifling the urge to win the argument at all costs.

Patience, a fruit of God's Spirit and a trait He abundantly displays, is not a passive turning away, but an active effort to control bursts of anger.

Not only must Christians follow true doctrines, but they must also live God's way in the proper attitude. Here are lessons from Jonah's and Moses' examples.

Unrighteous anger, whether explosive or smoldering, can lead to high blood pressure, migraine headaches, or can ultimately lead to our spiritual demise.

We dare not let the sun go down on our wrath. Uncontrolled anger can be a major cause of mental and physical illness. We must reconcile with our adversaries.

Throughout the course of Biblical history, whenever sin appears, confusion, division and separation are the automatic consequences.

Societal incivility, discourtesy, and in-your-face attitudes (works of the flesh) have manifested themselves in the church of God, but contradict agape.

Our outward works show what we believe, what we worship, and what we aspire to become. Apart from God, all human works activities are potentially destructive.

Paul admonishes the Corinthians to resist contentions, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering, slander, conceit, and agitation.

II Timothy 3:1-5 contains 19 characteristics of carnality. The common denominator is self-absorption and pride, placing the self above others.

We desperately need to internalize the godly traits of kindness, mercy, compassion, and tenderness, displacing the carnal traits of bitterness and wrath.