The Habits Of Gentleness And Peace

A gentle spirit is a direct by-product of a relationship with Christ. At the same time, cultivating a more patient, gentler personality is a great way to lower the stresses of life and reduce anxiety. Based on occurrences of the word gentle in the Bible, I would define it as “the ability to stay calm in all our conflicts and kind in all our conduct.” It doesn’t mean weakness. It’s a supernatural quality and a spiritual temper of soul. It is Jesus living through us, because we’re not like that on our own, and it’s vital to developing a Christian personality.

Gentle people are grounded in Scripture and prayer. A gentle spirit also reflects Christ who is “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29 NIV). The default setting on His personality was one of compassion, love, gentleness, patience, and humility. God loves you and me greatly and gently, and through Jesus Christ, He reaches out to us with all the tenderness of His nail-scarred hands. When we respond to His love and receive Him as Lord and Savior, He moves into our hearts and begins to remodel our temperaments. As we mature in Christ, we exchange our low image of ourselves with a high image of Christ. The Holy Spirit forms His personality within us and teaches us the incredible power of a gentle spirit. God is delighted when we are gentle, and He is grieved when we aren’t (see 1 Peter 3:4).

Of the habits we practice to calm our anxiety, the habit of peace is at the foundation. The peace of God makes joy, humble dependence, a sense of His nearness, a heart of gratitude, soundness of mind, a transformed heart through the influence of godly people, and a gentle disposition possible. As we practice the habits that God has laid out for us, our susceptibility to surging worry will recede and we’ll find ourselves facing the pressures of our problems with less panic and greater peace—transcendent peace.

On occasions that tempt us to feel anxious, we can take a deep breath, close our eyes a moment, and pray. We can rejoice in the Lord, find reasons for giving thanks, and exercise gentleness. We can meditate on the Bible passages that resonate with us. The result is guaranteed. As we do these things consistently, the power of God’s comforting Spirit and His holy words will overhaul our minds until all our thoughts, feelings, and reactions vibrate with peace. Somehow in His infinite grace, God reduces our fears and replaces them with a peace that transcends all understanding.

God makes a pledge that we will become recipients of something so powerful and pervasive it will forever change our lives, our personalities, our anxiety levels, our legacies—everything about us: “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NIV). Our hearts and minds refer to our thoughts and emotions. They are intertwined. That is why the God of peace both composes our minds with truth and guards our emotions with trust. God Himself is our source of peace. The only thing better than the peace of God is the God of peace who promises to be with His people forever (see verse 9).

Respond

Where in your life do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to cultivate gentleness? How would gentleness transform your response to conflict and calm your anxiety?

How can rejoicing in the Lord, giving thanks to God, and exercising gentleness open your heart to experiencing the peace of God?

How will you respond the next time anxiety and trials come your way?

Was this plan helpful? We adapted this plan from Calm Your Anxiety: Winning the Fight Against Worry by Robert J. Morgan. Check it out for more.