What Does a Heart of Gentleness Look Like?

A heart of gentleness:

• Is “free from harshness, sternness, or violence”¹
• Keeps its power under control²
• Chooses an alternative to anger as described in Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV), which says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
• Exercises meekness in personal hardship because it accepts God’s “dealings with us as good”³ (whatever He allows), counts on His character, and trusts Him (Psalm 9:10)
• Exercises meekness towards difficult people because it relies on God, and not self, to defend it against injustice⁴
• Trusts in God’s control over every situation⁵

How can we pray for a heart of gentleness?

• Lord, help me to see this situation from Your perspective, and not my own, and give me wisdom for what my response should be.
• Father, thank You for how patient and gentle You are with me. Please help me to have Your kind of patience in my relationships.
• Father, help me to trust You that You can work good out of the difficulties I’m walking through right now, and help me to see Your goodness everywhere I turn.

How would you pray for a heart of gentleness? Share with us in the comments.

1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentle
2. This description comes from a definition shared by Dr. Charles Stanley.
3. Larry Pierce, The Online Bible, CD-ROM (Winterbourne, Ontario: Larry Pierce, 2023), Galatians 5:23.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.