Try Softer
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
I love a nice, warm throw blanket on a cold winter day. Actually, I enjoy blankets all year-round. I don’t discriminate on their textures either—chenille, sherpa, fleece, wool, plush, microplush, weighted, cooling, etc. Blankets seem to bring the same comfort as a hug from someone that you love. Even as I sit here typing, there is a plaid sherpa blanket hugging my physical body that was a gift from a great friend of mine!
I have had “blankets” on my mind since the new year made an entrance. Many of you have written goals and resolutions for 2023. Others hesitate in doing so as to avoid the heartbreak of future failures. Personally, I like resolutions. There is a focus and clarity that comes from making them. You recognize that something needs to change in your life, and then you set out to make those changes happen. And for me, the Holy Spirit has used the physicality of a blanket to get my attention about something that needs to change in my life. I love that the Holy Spirit is practical like that! And with His help, I have resolved to work on the behavioral concept of “try softer.”
Try Softer.
I bet there are many out there who are resolving to change one or more of their emotional/behavioral responses this year. We all struggle with a few or more of these types of shortcomings. We are human, and we are sinful. But as followers of Jesus, we are to “....walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”(Galatians 5:16-18 NIV) The Holy Spirit was convicting me of walking by the flesh in my responses to others. The demeanor and disposition of someone else should not influence my response to them. This includes my husband, my kids, family, friends, co-workers, co-laborers in Christ, acquaintances, and strangers. As Christ-followers, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our lives. Let’s keep reading in Galatians 5:22-25(NIV)~
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Since we belong to Jesus, we should also value others in relationships as he did. Paul wrote to the body of believers at Philippi concerning this in Philippians 2:5, “In your relationships with one another, have the SAME mindset as Christ Jesus.”(emphasis added) Paul wrote to the believers at Colossae, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12 NIV.)
Try Softer.
As I look toward the days, weeks, and months of 2023, I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. I wrote out my resolution, but I also added scripture as the basis for it, which is found in Proverbs 15:1,
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Will I ever perfect this resolution? Probably not. Will I fail with this resolution? Yes, undoubtedly. But the real goal and resolve is to fully lean into the conviction and correction of the Comforter and Helper that is the Holy Spirit. Walking by the Spirit in all aspects of life. And looking forward to the hope of our heavenly home where all is made perfect, and the old order of things has passed away.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, what are you working towards this year? I want to encourage you to base every resolve off of the Word of God. No self-help books or mantras. The only self-help book we need is God’s word. The Word is alive and active(Hebrews 4:12), ready to change and transform our behaviors. I will be cheering you on and praying for you!
I would love to hear from you as you make your “resolves” according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit~email at Lparks292@gmail.com
Happy 2023!
Lindsey Parks
