Today we continue our look at chapter eleven – Growing Strong Through Gentleness in the book “A Woman’s Walk with God” by Elizabeth George. It is a study of the Fruit of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness. Galatians 5:22
There is a posture of gentleness. Below is a long quote from the author.
“The Hebrew word for ‘trust’ originally expressed the idea of helplessly lying face-down. But practicing this posture of trust calls for complete reliance on Jehovah. It calls for an absolute confidence that God alone knows the right way to the right ends and what benefits us. It also comes with the certainty that God is able to free us from that which does us harm. Therefore this trust-this placing of our total confidence wholly in God-is the source of gentleness or meekness.Wasn’t that good what the author said? Are you wondering how you can cultivate gentleness? How gentleness can be accomplished in your life by not fighting? Gentleness is indeed the opposite of our world and of our flesh. It is not easy to let gentleness reign.
This picture of trust reveals that gentleness is opposite to much that our world exalts. Gentleness is the opposite of self-assertiveness and self-interest. It is the opposite of violence and outbursts of anger, the evidence of God at work in our life.
Gentleness is required when wrong is inflicted upon us and when we are suffering the heat of ill treatment. And what does gentleness do under those conditions? It lies helplessly facedown. It bends, it bows, it lowers its head before the father. It submits, it accepts, and it humbles itself under the mighty hand of God: Gentleness takes it.
Gentleness accomplishes all of this by not fighting. We must give up disputing, complaining, murmuring, and grumbling. After all, why should we do these things if God is in control and God is allowing these trying situations?”
The author goes on to say “then as we practice this posture of a trusting heart before God and rely on Him for His wisdom and mercy and protection, we indeed grow strong through gentleness.”
A few biblical examples of gentleness.
1. Hannah. She “found herself the daily prey of her husband’s other wife. Hannah chose to take it and she told the Lord instead.”
2. Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. “Mary conceived and bore the baby Jesus. Many thought of her as a fornicator. She could have tried to explain, she could have told what happened, and she could have bragged. But instead, the gentle and meek Mary took it.”
3. Mary of Bethany. Mary poured out her heart in worship and was criticized for it. “Mary responded with godly silence…she took it. She quietly bowed her head and bore the pain of public ridicule…and trusted in God instead.
4. Moses. God chose Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. But the people complained and wished they were back in Egypt. “When the people complained, Moses didn’t argue with them, reason with them, defend himself, or get into any kind of struggle with them. Instead, he took it. Moses took it-and he took it on his face, prostrate before God.”
The author concludes with this. “We can take it, dear one-we can live out gentleness-only when we stretch our roots down deep into the soil of trust and faith until we tough the heart of God and the Rock of Ages.
Here are two thought provoking question the author asks at the end of chapter 11:
1. What thoughts could help you cultivate gentleness in your life?
2. What actions do you equate with gentleness?
Let’s pray. Father, we think You for all that we have learned over the last few days on gentleness. Give us strength to live out gentleness. Help us to practice the posture of a trusting heart before You and to rely on Your wisdom. Thank You Father. We love and appreciate You. We declare that there is none like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Blessings,
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