S) "5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:5 (NIV)
O) Too often, manhood is measured by the ability to intimidate. Men in our culture mistake aggression for confidence, they mistake violence for strength. They mistake silence for stupidity, they mistake gentleness for weakness. Our King, though, is described as a lion and a lamb. Being a man is more than exerting strength and imposing will. I think every man has a gentle side, because we are made in the likeness of God; I believe our likeness to Him is in spirit, as much as appearence. The most life-altering moments I've had with God didn't come when He struck me down, or broke me with His strength. The most impactful, meaningful times I've had with God were when I was vulnerable and already broken and struck down. He quietly lifted me up, put me on His shoulder, cleaned up my mess, and then reassembled my shattered heart with His careful, patient, slow, and gentle hands.
A) As a father of 2 girls, I am fully aware of the need to use gentleness. Will they obey me if I am scary, aggressive, violent, and strict? Yes. Will they grow up fearful, uncertain, distant, and resentful? Probably. It's pretty easy for me (and most men) to realize that gentleness is a necessity when raising girls. As a father of a boy, I am much less aware of the need to be gentle. It's not that I don't recognize that need, but it's admittedly harder to recognize when the need arises. Like so many other things, I need to rely on the Holy Spirit, and the discernment I have through Him, to recognize when my son needs my gentle hand and when he needs force. Certainly, I know that he will need to test his own strength against mine (he's really burgeoning into that phase now, at 4 and a half), and I need to give him a hard edge, against which he can sharpen himself, but my gentleness needs to be revealed to him. My daugthers need to be able to trust and rely on my strength to protect and provide. They need to know that I will use my strength for their security, but I need to present them with a gentleness that comforts with those same strong hands. These are all parallels to how God handles, leads, raises, disciplines, and loves us as our heavenly Father.
P) Father, the best way for me to reflect Your combination of strength and gentleness is to know Your strength and gentleness. Reveal Your nature to me, God. Lead me, so I can lead them. Holy Spirit, direct me well. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see, so I know when to use force and when to be gentle, with each of my children, and even with my wife. I want to be a righteous king that glorifies You, God. As my children grow up, I pray that they are easily able to relate to You as their heavenly Father, because I have done well as their earthly father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) As a father of 2 girls, I am fully aware of the need to use gentleness. Will they obey me if I am scary, aggressive, violent, and strict? Yes. Will they grow up fearful, uncertain, distant, and resentful? Probably. It's pretty easy for me (and most men) to realize that gentleness is a necessity when raising girls. As a father of a boy, I am much less aware of the need to be gentle. It's not that I don't recognize that need, but it's admittedly harder to recognize when the need arises. Like so many other things, I need to rely on the Holy Spirit, and the discernment I have through Him, to recognize when my son needs my gentle hand and when he needs force. Certainly, I know that he will need to test his own strength against mine (he's really burgeoning into that phase now, at 4 and a half), and I need to give him a hard edge, against which he can sharpen himself, but my gentleness needs to be revealed to him. My daugthers need to be able to trust and rely on my strength to protect and provide. They need to know that I will use my strength for their security, but I need to present them with a gentleness that comforts with those same strong hands. These are all parallels to how God handles, leads, raises, disciplines, and loves us as our heavenly Father.
P) Father, the best way for me to reflect Your combination of strength and gentleness is to know Your strength and gentleness. Reveal Your nature to me, God. Lead me, so I can lead them. Holy Spirit, direct me well. Open my ears to hear and my eyes to see, so I know when to use force and when to be gentle, with each of my children, and even with my wife. I want to be a righteous king that glorifies You, God. As my children grow up, I pray that they are easily able to relate to You as their heavenly Father, because I have done well as their earthly father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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