Gentleness

Gentleness is mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness and consideration.

This trait allows us to fulfill the words of Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath..." and much more.

The fruit of the Holy Spirit gives us mildness and meekness which help us to respond appropriately and without quarrel. Meekness must not be confused with cowardice. Standing meekly in the humility that Christ has shown is more courageous than the most courageous act ever.

It was this trait that got me started to learning more about the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Not too long ago, I encountered someone who was being unreasonable and extremely choleric. He made some very strong and unnecessary statements about someone that I know. He was extremely angry when he made those statements and he meant every word he said.

In times past, I would have reacted with anger and would have returned him his "favor". However, this time around, I found myself answering him gently, almost too gently to the point that I thought that I was being a coward. I thought that I was not standing up to defend my friend during that verbal tirade.

When I reached home that day, I asked the Lord if I had become a coward. That was when He directed me to Gal 5:22-23. It was then that I began to learn that I was manifesting gentleness....praise the Lord.

The Holy Spirit is not finished with me yet. I am clearly a "Work-in-Progress" project for Him. But I know for sure that I will inch forward daily as I trust my Counselor and Comforter to lead me.

Many times, I still fail to respond to someone with gentleness and am not as considerate as I should be. I may even have sent some off with an anguish heart due to my insensitivity to them.

Oh, we certainly need to depend on the Holy Spirit to fill us with this trait of His fruit. Let us all begin to ask Him daily to be our Counselor, to lead and prompt us t0 be sensitive and gentle. Let's ask Him to make us aware of the needs of others and thence to minister to these people. Let our ministry show them the love of Christ, not by words alone but by our actions.

These are not works of our own, for if that were so, we will tire ourselves quickly. Unless the Holy Spirit gives us the strength to do so, we cannot sustain it.

I pray that we all will let the Holy Spirit work gentleness into our whole being - for His glory and the expansion of His kingdom.

God bless.

Steven