Warrior Prayers: Day 16 "Gentleness"

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." ~James 3:17

Encouragement from Brooke

Aggression in men is commonplace. It may not manifest itself the same way for all of them, but it’s there nonetheless. For the physical boys, it shows up in their need to be on the top of the wrestling pile. For the intellectuals, it shows up in their need to score the highest on the exam or be at the top of the class. Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with aggression. I don’t want to break my sons of their aggressive streak and I’m learning not to be afraid of it. But I do want to teach them how and when to use

it. I’m beginning to think that gentleness is more of an approach to life than a specific characteristic to develop.

Since they were born, we’ve whispered these words into our sons’ ears:

God made men to protect women and care for them. God made you a big brother! Your job is to protect your little brother, not hurt him. There’s a time to play and a time to listen. If you can’t listen, you have to feel (true in so many aspects of life). God wants you to use your strength to protect, not to hurt. Superhero’s don’t look for fights, but they will fight to protect others. It’s OK to want to be the best, but the best people in life are the ones who serve others. A gentle word turns away wrath …

Goal for today:

1.     Commit to praying the ten prayers in the gentleness chapter during day sixteen.

2.    Helping our sons to define and set parameters for their aggression can help develop a worldview of gentleness.

Gentleness

May__________know that a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

May__________take God’s yoke upon Him, and learn from Him, for He is gentle and lowly in heart, then__________will find rest for his soul (Matthew 11:29).

May__________be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with others in love (Ephesians 4:2).

May__________be gentle, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

May__________not be a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3).

May__________pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

May__________correct his opponents with gentleness that God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25).

May__________speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2).

May__________have wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).

May__________honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks him for a reason for the hope that is in him; yet do it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).