“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31 ESV)

Strive for peace with everyone

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” (Heb. 12:14-15 NIV)

Forgive others their trespasses 

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 ESV)

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matt. 6:14-15 ESV)

Therefore…

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:17-21 ESV)

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” (Phil. 2:3-4 NLT)

Attitude: A manner of thinking, feeling, or behaving that reflects a state of mind or disposition. 

Your attitude 

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had...” (Phil. 2:5 NLT)

Jesus’ attitude 

•  He gave up His devine privileges 

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges.” ( Phil. 2:6-7 NLT)

• He took the humble position of a slave

    “…he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.” (Phil. 2:7NLT)

• He humbled Himself in total obedience to God 

“When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Phil. 2:8 NLT)

Therefore…

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11 NLT)

“Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see " And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Cor. 16:17)

There is a spiritual world that we cannot see unless our “spiritual eyes” are opened to see it. In the above passage, Elisha’s servant was given the opportunity to see the horses and chariots of fire that were all around him. Whenever a person turns to the Lord, he then is able to “see” spiritual things because the veil of blindness is removed.

“…whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor. 3:16)

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him…” (Luke 24:31)

The eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know what is the hope of His calling

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” (Eph. 1:18)

Therefore…

 “For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23 ESV)

Yellow ribbon on the oak tree

The1970’s hit song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,”sung by Tony Orlando and Dawn, is about a man coming home on a bus after serving time in prison. He has written a letter to the woman he loves saying to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree if she still wants him in her life. And he will “stay on the bus, and forget about us” if he doesn’t see a yellow ribbon on the tree. When he arrives, he is greatly surprised to see “a hundred yellow ribbons 'round the ole oak tree!” It was a great song about steadfast love. The passage of Scripture at top says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” You can count on God’s love to continue for you steadfastly!

God’s steadfast love for you endures forever!

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalms 118:1-4 ESV)

Nothing can separate you from the love of God

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 ESV)

Therefore…

“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalms 117:1-2 ESV)

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:20 ESV)

Jesus endured the cross

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2 ESV)

The word of the cross is the power of God to those who are being saved

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18 ESV)

Therefore…

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20 ESV)

“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 ESV)

 “‘Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple’.” (Luke 14:27 ESV)

“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Gal. 6:14 ESV)

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9)

Faithful: having faith; remaining true, steadfast in affection or allegiance; constant, loyal; having qualities of dependability and devotion.

God is abounding in faithfulness

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

God’s faithfulness endures to all generations

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.” (Psalm 119:90)

Therefore…

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 19:23 NIV)

“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4)

“Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.” (Prov. 12:25 NLT)

Worrying defined: Worrying is a form of 'torment' usually self-inflicted. It is unusual excessive thoughts or anxieties of a current or future event and its outcome. Simply put, to worry is to meditate on fearful imaginations.

Stop worrying by controlling your thoughts and making them obedient to Christ

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:3-5 NIV)

Stop worrying by controlling what you think about

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (Prov. 23:7)

Stop worrying by keeping your mind stayed on the Lord

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” (Isa. 26:3 NKJV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)

Therefore…

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Prov. 27:17, NLT)

A true friend is hard to find

“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? (Prov. 20:6, NLT)

A true friend is always loyal

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” (Prov. 17:17, NLT)

A true friend sticks closer than a brother

“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24, NLT)

A true friend is godly and gives good advice

“The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.” (Prov. 12:26, NLT)

A true friend speaks the truth in love, even when it hurts

“An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Prov. 27:5-6, NLT)

A true friend brings heartfelt counsel

“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Prov. 27:9, NLT)

God is the truest friend!

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” (Rom. 5:10, NLT)

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:19 ESV)

God is treating you as sons

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:5-11 ESV)

Therefore…

“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:11-12 ESV)

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (Prov. 12:1 ESV)