the Word

Drum roll please…OK, so maybe that’s a bit dramatic. The word for 2012 is… GENTLENESS

Yep, I picked a doozy of a character trait to work on this year. I already fail multiple times a day to be a gentle woman of God. Gentleness is freedom from harshness, sternness or violence and is synonymous with soothing and tender. In Ephesians 4:2 Paul commands all Christians to “Be completely humble & gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” but Peter instructs godly women specifically in 1 Peter 3:4 that “Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Proverbs also promises in 15:1 that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and in 25:15 “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”

As a woman and follower of Jesus, the Scripture teaches I bring Him the most honor by being gentle. I’ve been told before my passionate personality will prevent me from being a gentle woman. However, the Bible teaches me to pursue a humble, gentle spirit; that specifically as a woman, my gentleness is of great worth in God’s sight. The world today is full of boldness, brazenness, overt sexuality and opinionated loud-mouths. Even Disney characters sass their parents and scream for “what’s their right.” That isn’t who Jesus was. That’s not who God asks his followers to be. And as a woman, I have an especial responsibility to be gentle.

I’m going to be pursuing gentleness in my words. How I speak to others, how I speak about others. I’m pursuing gentleness in my body language. How I discipline my kids and respond to others when facing a conflict. I’m pursuing gentleness in my outlook on life. I don’t need to be heard. I don’t need to be the boss. I don’t need everyone to know I’m right. I’m begging God to pour out His gentle Spirit in my thoughts, actions and words so I become a woman transformed. A better mom, wife, friend, neighbor. A gentle and persuasive follower of Christ.

Pray for me. I covet your prayers and will need them as I honestly face huge hurdles in relying on God and improving my character. 2012, meet a gentler me!