"Go gently through this day. Lean on me, rely on My presence." ~Jesus Calling
This sentence jumped out of the page of my "Jesus Calling" book this morning. I zeroed in on the word gently. What would gently look like for me today.
gently = carefully
gently = purposeful
gently = intentional
gently = soft answers and responses
What does God's word say about gentle, gently, gentleness?
This:
Jesus is gentle. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. You will find rest." Matthew 11:28
Ladies, be gentle. "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4
Walk in gentleness. "....walk...with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love..." Ephesians 4:1,2
Pursue gentleness. "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith." 1 Timothy 6:11
What does Webster say?
As an adjective, belonging to a family of high social station (hmmm..that's a new one...), chivalrous, honorable, kind, amiable, free from harshness, soft, delicate, docile.
As a verb, to make gentler, to make an animal tame and docile.
Now, that reminds me of something! Could this gentle gentle word study be leading me here?
My youngest daughter and I are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House book series this school year...We read a chapter or two each day and by the end of the year, we will have finished the entire series. Along the way we stop and study related subjects (like Native Americans), try recipes mentioned in the book, make crafts, delve deeper, etc.
The other day we read in Little House On The Prairie of Pa helping ranchers/cattle movers moving Texas longhorns through the prairie. In exchange for his help, he was given a female longhorn and her new calf. The longhorn was scared and wild "as a deer" and even kicked Pa in the chest when he tried to milk her.
Pa build a tight fence/pen around her to keep her still, secure and to begin taming her. The fence had room for her baby but the mama cow couldn't walk or turn. Pa spoke softly to the cow and was very kind to it. Pa told Laura this was how to "gentle" a cow. I explained what this meant to my girl, and we both agreed that we don't use that version of the word gentle much these days. Eventually, the cow became secure, felt safe, trusted Pa, and was docile and tame. She was able to leave her tight pen for regular grazing during the day and the barn at night.
The more we choose to and allow ourselves to be yoked (Matt 11:28) with Jesus...to be filled with His presence, the more gentle we will be. The more gentle and the more gentled.
Allowing Father to gentle us doesn't mean to beat us into submission until we don't know who we are anymore. But it means for Him to love us gentle....to love us with his overwhelming love until we desire nothing more but to follow, submit, let Him lead and still be who He created us to be.
I like this word gentle and its meanings for me...all of them.
Father, gentle me, gently. And may I be gentle to those around me in return.
gently = carefully
gently = purposeful
gently = intentional
gently = soft answers and responses
What does God's word say about gentle, gently, gentleness?
This:
Jesus is gentle. "Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. You will find rest." Matthew 11:28
Ladies, be gentle. "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:4
Walk in gentleness. "....walk...with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love..." Ephesians 4:1,2
Pursue gentleness. "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith." 1 Timothy 6:11
What does Webster say?
As an adjective, belonging to a family of high social station (hmmm..that's a new one...), chivalrous, honorable, kind, amiable, free from harshness, soft, delicate, docile.
As a verb, to make gentler, to make an animal tame and docile.
Now, that reminds me of something! Could this gentle gentle word study be leading me here?
My youngest daughter and I are going through the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House book series this school year...We read a chapter or two each day and by the end of the year, we will have finished the entire series. Along the way we stop and study related subjects (like Native Americans), try recipes mentioned in the book, make crafts, delve deeper, etc.
The other day we read in Little House On The Prairie of Pa helping ranchers/cattle movers moving Texas longhorns through the prairie. In exchange for his help, he was given a female longhorn and her new calf. The longhorn was scared and wild "as a deer" and even kicked Pa in the chest when he tried to milk her.Pa build a tight fence/pen around her to keep her still, secure and to begin taming her. The fence had room for her baby but the mama cow couldn't walk or turn. Pa spoke softly to the cow and was very kind to it. Pa told Laura this was how to "gentle" a cow. I explained what this meant to my girl, and we both agreed that we don't use that version of the word gentle much these days. Eventually, the cow became secure, felt safe, trusted Pa, and was docile and tame. She was able to leave her tight pen for regular grazing during the day and the barn at night.
The more we choose to and allow ourselves to be yoked (Matt 11:28) with Jesus...to be filled with His presence, the more gentle we will be. The more gentle and the more gentled.
Allowing Father to gentle us doesn't mean to beat us into submission until we don't know who we are anymore. But it means for Him to love us gentle....to love us with his overwhelming love until we desire nothing more but to follow, submit, let Him lead and still be who He created us to be.
I like this word gentle and its meanings for me...all of them.
Father, gentle me, gently. And may I be gentle to those around me in return.
