wjnovack.com - Author

“The basis of all ministry is the experience of God's unlimited and unlimiting acceptance of us as beloved children, an acceptance so full, so total, and all-embracing, that it sets us free from our compulsion to be seen, praised, and admired and frees us for Christ, who leads us on the road of service.”

— The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility and the Spiritual Life by Henri J. M. Nouwen

“We love until we are betrayed. Jesus continued to the cross despite betrayal. We love until we are forsaken. Jesus loved through forsakenness. We love up to a limit. Jesus loves to the end.”

— Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund

“ Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the One with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people relied on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers Quote shared via Kindle: "Our sins darken our feelings of his gracious heart, but his heart cannot be diminished for his own people due to their sins any more than the sun’s existence can be threatened due to the passing of a few wispy clouds or even an ext...

Gentle?

What does it mean?

I recently felt led to commit to memory, Philippians 4:6&7. This is a quote that many of us are familiar with - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Usually, when you see this quote, it doesn't include the verses before or after.

I decided to read the entire chapter. When I did, I was stopped in my tracks. When I read verse 5, I could hear screeching tires on pavement and the sound of metal and glass colliding in a cacophony of chaos. I have read this verse dozens of times, but this time a single word lept off the page.

It reads "Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near." It suddenly occured to me that I am not sure I have a gentle spirit. Anxious, maybe - or restless, but I am unsure about gentle.

Then, I began to think back over my life. How many times have I experienced a gentle spirit? How often have I experienced gentleness? What does it even look like?

How would I describe a gentle spirit? The first thing that comes to mind is that we are gentle with things that are easily broken.

What comes to your mind? I am interested in hearing if you have encountered a gentle spirit in your life. And if so, what was it like?