40 Days Pondering the Fruit of the Spirit
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 9 | GENTLENESS
40 Days PONDERING the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Day 9 | GENTLENESS
GENTLENESS
Galatians 5:22-23
“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!” (NLT)
Gentleness – also translated as meekness, involves humility, thankfulness towards God, and restrained behavior towards others. One who demonstrates this fruit is not weak but chooses to be polite in dealing with others.
Today, we all see much of the opposite… self-centeredness, anger, and a focus on revenge. People seem increasingly “me-first” oriented and are quick-tempered, hot-headed, impolite, impatient and thankless.
God wants us – those of us in Christ – to give control of our lives to HIM. And with the Holy Spirit living within us – as a result of being born again – we can and should be willingly submissive to His leading, which includes gentleness.
The words we say matter. They can harm or heal. They can uplift or put down. They can be rough and uncaring or gentle and polite.
Our human natures usually want to give “tit-for-tat” … “I’ll give as good as I get.”
In Proverbs we read, “Gentle words are a tree of life.” (Prov 15:4)
Consider this: The next person you talk to – be it family, friend, neighbor, or stranger – may be “starving” for a gentle word. They may have just argued with someone or read something unsettling in an email or on the news. YOUR gentle words, mixed with politeness and gratitude (towards God), may be JUST what that person needs to get out of their emotional spiral and back on track for the day.
Now keep in mind that this fruit – like ALL fruit – needs the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to effectively and adequately be a blessing to others. So, slow down and listen up. Then let your fruit be a blessing to others.
Prayer: LORD, I admit that I need to slow down, think, pray, and listen more to You. Help me to show the fruit of gentleness to someone today. Amen.
Galatians 5:22-23
“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!” (NLT)
Gentleness – also translated as meekness, involves humility, thankfulness towards God, and restrained behavior towards others. One who demonstrates this fruit is not weak but chooses to be polite in dealing with others.
Today, we all see much of the opposite… self-centeredness, anger, and a focus on revenge. People seem increasingly “me-first” oriented and are quick-tempered, hot-headed, impolite, impatient and thankless.
God wants us – those of us in Christ – to give control of our lives to HIM. And with the Holy Spirit living within us – as a result of being born again – we can and should be willingly submissive to His leading, which includes gentleness.
The words we say matter. They can harm or heal. They can uplift or put down. They can be rough and uncaring or gentle and polite.
Our human natures usually want to give “tit-for-tat” … “I’ll give as good as I get.”
In Proverbs we read, “Gentle words are a tree of life.” (Prov 15:4)
Consider this: The next person you talk to – be it family, friend, neighbor, or stranger – may be “starving” for a gentle word. They may have just argued with someone or read something unsettling in an email or on the news. YOUR gentle words, mixed with politeness and gratitude (towards God), may be JUST what that person needs to get out of their emotional spiral and back on track for the day.
Now keep in mind that this fruit – like ALL fruit – needs the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to effectively and adequately be a blessing to others. So, slow down and listen up. Then let your fruit be a blessing to others.
Prayer: LORD, I admit that I need to slow down, think, pray, and listen more to You. Help me to show the fruit of gentleness to someone today. Amen.
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