How can I better control my temper?

Psalm 86:15You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Proverbs 16:32Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Nahum 1:3The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished. He displays his power in the whirlwind and the storm. The billowing clouds are the dust beneath his feet.

Galatians 5:16-17, 22-23Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. . . . But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Colossians 3:8-10Now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

2 Timothy 1:7God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God is even-tempered. As we grow to know God more and live under the control of his Spirit, we will be able to keep our tempers in check. We will model Jesus’ earthly example through our growing maturity.

Ephesians 4:2, 26-27Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. . . . And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

2 Timothy 2:24A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

James 1:19-20You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

As we rid ourselves of our old sinful nature, we will treat others differently. Our new nature will be humble, patient, forgiving, and peaceful.

Proverbs 12:16A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

Proverbs 19:11Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

Proverbs 29:11Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

Ask God for the wisdom to remain calm and avoid being controlled by anger. Ask for peace in the moment and a steady reaction to the events and words that provoke you.

Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

Proverbs 17:27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

James 1:19-20Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

Thinking before speaking is a sign of wisdom and a key to neutralizing potentially angry situations. We should use well-chosen and gentle words in order to keep tempers in check.

Proverbs 13:20Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 22:24-25Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

We should stay away from angry, short-tempered people, or we will learn to be like them and endanger ourselves. We become like those we spend our time around. If our friends often act in anger, we can easily be swept along with them. In time, this can become a habit, even when we are not around them.