Joyful Moments in Christ

A Prayer for Practicing Gentleness

A Prayer for Practicing Gentleness

A Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are a gentle and loving God, tender in your care and patient with your children. Your word shows us that your gentleness is a source of strength and comfort. Jesus modeled perfect gentleness, welcoming the weary and burdened, healing the brokenhearted, and offering peace to those in turmoil. You call us to follow his example, reflecting your kindness and humility in all we do.

I confess that gentleness is often lacking in my life. In a world filled with division and heated debate, I am quick to speak but slow to listen, often responding with harshness, frustration, or anger rather than compassion and understanding. Recent events in American politics have given me countless opportunities to practice gentleness, yet I have too often contributed to tension instead of fostering peace. Please forgive me for these failings and teach me to respond with grace, even when I feel provoked or passionate.

Thank you for your gentle dealings with me, even when I am stubborn or fail to follow your ways. Thank you for your kindness, patience, and unwavering love that draws me back to you time and time again. I am grateful for the example of Jesus, who demonstrated true strength through humility and gentleness, even in the face of hostility and injustice.

Lord, I ask you to cultivate the fruit of gentleness in my life. Help me to approach others with humility and a heart that seeks to understand, especially in challenging conversations or moments of conflict. Teach me to be slow to anger, quick to listen, and eager to build others up rather than tear them down. Let my words and actions reflect your Spirit, bringing healing and unity instead of division. May my gentleness be a testimony of your grace at work in me.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Respond

Please pray a prayer about practicing gentleness.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can use the ACTS method: Adoration, Confession, Thankfulness, and Supplication:

  • Adoration: Praise God. Does this topic bring any specific characteristics of God to mind?
  • Confession: Tell God that you are sorry for specific sins. Does this topic bring any specific sins to mind?
  • Thankfulness: Show gratitude towards God. Does anything from this topic inspire gratitude?
  • Supplication: Make requests for yourself and for others. Does anything from this topic inspire a prayer?

If helpful, you can use a prayer journal template.

A Prayer for Practicing Gentleness
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Galatians 6:1 (ESV): Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV): Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
1 Peter 3:14-16 (ESV): But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this post and wish to receive more Christian content, feel free to subscribe to my newsletters!

Related Resources

Visit the Joyful Moments in Christ homepage for all posts, or scroll through other blog posts related to gentleness and anger:

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Recent

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,