Day Nine: GENTLENESS

Day Nine ~ GENTLENESS

Key Bible Verse- 

Psalm 18:35  You have also given me the shield of salvation, And your right hand upholds me and your gentleness makes me great.

Thoughts to ponder- 

God's gentleness in us and working through us makes us great. But not for our own sakes, for the sake of the work He has called us to do in His Kingdom.  Gentleness, like the other fruit of the Spirit, is given to us as a gift, but we must open that gift, learn about it and put it into use for it to fully use it and see it working in our lives.

Some people confuse timidity or frailty with gentleness.  Gentleness is NOT weakness but rather the skill to wield power effectively.  It is using the power of God in us to draw others to Him by dealing with others in firm but tender ways.  When we choose not to respond to others with harshness or severity but in tenderness and kindness we are operating in gentleness.

Gentleness is also tied to humility.  In Matthew 11:29 Jesus tells His disciples "...I am gentle and humble in heart...". I think to be gentle and humble of heart means that we know who we are in Christ and walk in a God-confidence which that knowledge brings.  However, at the same time we do not think too highly of ourselves. We understand that with out Christ we are nothing.  When gentleness becomes developed in our lives, we give up the need to defend or justify ourselves for the sake of being right. As we rest quietly in God and allow Him to work through our gentle actions towards others, He upholds us and makes us great witnesses to His transforming power available to all who believe.

Challenge/Action Step- 

Spend some time in prayer and ask God to show you any areas in your relationships that you tend to respond harshly or severely. Ask Him to reveal to you hoe He would like you to deal with similar situations in the future. Write it down so you will remember!

Prayer for today-

Thank you Lord that you have given us so much!  Help us to understand and realize that every gift we have received from You is for Your glory and help us to find great joy in that as we develop the virtue of gentleness in our lives. ~Amen.

Thanks for joining me today as we continue this 

journey to understand and further develop the

fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  Please take a minute to leave a 

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Day Seven: GOODNESS

Day Seven ~GOODNESS

Key Bible Verse-

Matthew12:35   A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

Thoughts to ponder- 

Goodness is the virtue of being favorable and possessing integrity. Easton's Bible Dictionary describes goodness like this: "Goodness in a man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, the choosing and following of all moral good."

There is a lot wrapped up in that definition. Simply said, goodness is a state of being AND doing.  It is action and attitude tied together by choice.  As believer's, we look to the Lord as our example.  In Psalm 119:68 the author is speaking to God and says: "You are good and do good. Teach me Your statutes." To cultivate the virtue of goodness we must study God's word to learn about Him and His character since He IS good. We must be diligent students of Christ and avid listeners to the Holy Spirit in order to store up within us the good fruit we want to produce.

From beginning to end, the Bible reveals the moral divide between good and evil. God has even placed a conscience within us to help us determine the differences between the two.  Our level of integrity will often be made know to us by the choices we make when no one else is watching. It is essential that we constantly try to do good things that honor God.

Challenge/Action Step- 

The Bible has so much to say on the topic of goodness that it is difficult to cover well in a short devotional.  Therefore, I would like to encourage you to do a quick word search for the words goodness, good and evil. Try to read about 3 to 4 verses for each word.  Based on the verses you read write a definition for the goodness using your own words.

Prayer for today-

Father, you are good and you have called us to be filled with your goodness as well.  Help us to make the right choices each and every day that are rooted in goodness, integrity and moral excellence.  I pray that you would give us wisdom and understanding as we study your word and hide it in our hearts. ~ AMEN