When we walk in obedience to God's commands, the fruit of the Spirit is manifested in our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23).

Peace is part of the love of God. One of the most important things we have in life is peace. We can't let people rob us of it. We must protect it at all cost. Even when someone's getting on your last nerve, you cannot afford to cuss him out or remain angry.

Actions like these violate your peace and hinder the will of God. The Bible states, "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). However, if you do not restrain your mouth, your peace goes out the door. When we speak without restraint, pride is the motivating factor. In essence we are saying, "Regardless of what the Word says, I'm going to say and do what I want this time." When we refuse to comply with God, that's pride. And the Bible is clear about pride: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 6:18). So rather than put yourself in jeopardy with God, it would be wiser to respond, "Thank God I'm saved."

Love develops character in us so that we won't respond in the way pride has conditioned us to respond. Love enables us to shut our mouths, turn our heads, and bless those who curse us. When we begin walking in love to this degree, we'll congratulate ourselves, saying, "I really must be saved, because only someone saved by God's grace could love like this!"

Source: Lord, Teach Me How To Love by Creflo A. Dollar, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers