For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 16: 25-26

Most High God,
The lure of being "the best" is so prevalent and deceiving in our culture in academics, in athletics, in appearance, in position… on and on. Please help my children not to worship any of these things as gods; instead, create in them the desire to USE THEIR GIFTS and abilities to worship You ALONE, no matter the place or position You have CHOSEN for them.

And Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Matthew 20: 18-20

Dear King of Kings,
Cause my children to hear their marching orders with their HEARTS. Give them Your compassion for the lost. allow them to share the gospel in an understanding and inviting way. May Your presence and Your voice speak words of salvation to those who are longing for You.

I have seen You in the sanctuary, and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 63: 2-4

Dear Beautiful One,
I pray that my children will "see" Your almighty power and Your radiant glory. Open the eyes of their heart to You, O God. And in this place, overcome them with Your unending and unfailing love. May their days be filled with the praise of Your matchless Name so that others are drawn to You.

The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because He trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock.

Isaiah 26: 3-4

Dear God of Peace,
Please help my children to keep their mind steadfastly focused on YOU. Fill them with your perfect peace as they trust in You alone - become the everlasting rock to their souls.

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

II Chronicles 16: 9

Dear Strong God,
Make my children's hearts completely Yours, I pray. And when walking with You, help them to remember that You are by their side, strongly supporting every step.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

I Peter 2:9

King Eternal,
Only by Your grace my children are Your chosen people. Remind and convict their hearts that they are not their own - that they belong to you. May they be full of wonder at the miracle which You performed in each of them - drawing them out of darkness into Your marvelous light!

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all. Therefore all died; and He died for all, that they should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things passed away; behead, new things have come!

II Corinthians 5: 14-17

Dear Lord God,
It is my greatest heart's desire for Your powerful love to control the hearts of my children. Give them a humbled willingness to die to themselves daily, and then to LIVE with Your Spirit reigning inside each of them. Help them cling to the beautiful truth that old things have passed away; and yes, new things have come! Cause my children to WALK in this newness of life.

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20: 24

Dear Lord Jesus,
I pray that my children would not consider their lives as dear to themselves but as dear to You. Please give them the boldness, perseverance, and joy to share the gospel all their days.

And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?

Esther 4: 14

Dear Holy King,
Please cause my children to recognize their honorable position which has been given to them through Christ. Help them to fully embrace the truth that they are ROYALTY, waiting for their heavenly home. And while they wait, give them the strong desire to fulfill every good work You have prepared for them to do.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke up on you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11: 28-30

Dear Burden-Bearer,
I pray that my children will respond to Your invitation of "come". Free to them of any kind of man-made religion; and cause them to find complete rest when "bound to Your yoke." May they always long to learn more and more about You.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the wind blew, and burst against the house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded up on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.

Matthew 7: 24-26

Dear Strong Creator,
I pray my children will "build their house upon the ROCK!" Give them this desire, dear Lord. Keep their heart and mind away from the foolish "offerings" of this world - outward appearance, success, power, prestige, temporary pleasure. Help my children to recognize these things for what they are, not what they appear to be. Give them a heart's desire for YOU ALONE, the rock of their salvation, their fortress, their deliverer.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5: 8

Dear Holy One,
I pray my children will have a strong desire to keep their hearts pure from the different, fleeting pleasures this world offers them. In doing so, may You open the eyes of their heart so they can see the beauty and wonder of who You are.

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it that it may bear more fruit… he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

John 15: 1-5

Dear Source of Life,
Help my children to humbly realize they can do NOTHING WITHOUT YOU. Keep them closely connected to You, O God - abide in them. Please break away anything in their life that is not "of You", and then, grow them in Your glory.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which was laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward… Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

I Corinthians 3: 10-16

Dear Lord Jesus,
May YOU ALONE be the foundation of my children's hearts, nothing else. As they stand on Your promises, inspire them to live LIFE to the fullest with Your power, and for Your glory. May they not be satisfied with status quo, complacency, or passivity, I pray. Instead, I ask You to give them an urgent unquenching desire to serve You with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Keep them humbly aware that You, O God, live inside of them and that You long to accomplish everything that concerns them. Arise in them and SHINE through them, I pray.

…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Matthew 28: 20

O Immanuel,
Thank You for Your eternal presence. Help my children to embrace this truth with their whole heart. May they talk to You morning, noon, and night. May they be still enough to hear You - Your words of peace, Your calm sweet delight in their days.

Dear children,
Keep yourselves from idols.

I John 5: 21

Dear One True God,
I pray that NOTHING would come between You and the heart of each of my children. Fill them with Your strong spirit so they can resist the temptations of this fallen world. May NOTHING compare to YOUR riches that you give daily and that we will receive fully in heaven. Help them, God, to smash their idols at Your feet.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? …Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Psalm 42: 1-2, 5

Dear Abundant One,
When my children's souls become thirsty, I pray they will run to You. Cause them to take a long refreshing drink from Your living water, O God, so that they can withstand any doubt caused by disturbing circumstances in their personal lives. Make them realize You are their only hope. Fill them, so they can then pour out praise to Your name.

"May the good Lord pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God"… and (they) praised the Lord day after day with loud instruments to the Lord… and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

II Chronicles 30: 19, 21, 27

Dear Gracious King,
Thank You for the promise that if "we confess our sins, You are faithful and just to forgive our sins." I pray my children would continue to pour out their sins before You, so You can make them clean, again and again. May this merciful act on Your part cause them to rejoice in You day after day, praising You and thanking You. And may they each be confident that their own voice has been heard in Your holy dwelling place.

Thus says the Lord,
"Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not the rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things, " declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9: 23-24

Dear Exercising God,
The cry of Your heart is for Your children to understand and know You! Continue to show my children who You are: a God who delights in lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness. May this become what they boast about, nothing else.

In this love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins… we love, because He first loved us.

I John 4: 10,19

Dear Love Itself,
I pray that my children would always remember that You are the One who is passionately pursuing their souls. You left heaven's throne to win them with Your love. Continue to catch them, and embrace them, and fill them, so they can then turn around and pour Your love into another.

For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance, godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

II Peter 1: 5-9

Dear Lord Jesus,
I praise You and thank You for the faith that each of my children possess in their heart. For faith in You is the foundation in which they can build upon. Give them a desire to build, I pray. Cause them to make every effort to add to their faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, godliness, perseverance, brotherly kindness, and love. Yes, Lord make them effective and productive as they grow in their knowledge of You.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Psalm 32: 8

Dear Great Teacher,
I pray my children will HEAR Your instruction, LISTEN to Your counsel, and then OBEY the direction in which You tell them to go. May they walk by faith, not by sight.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Eph 4:1-6

Dear Holy Father,
I pray that my children would embrace their high calling of being Your child. Give them a heart's desire to follow you, step by step. Fill them with humility, gentleness, patience, and love for each other. May they be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. O God, You are the One true God who reigns on high and in our hearts. I ask that Your Spirit would work mightily through each of my children according to the different gifts that you have given them.

"For this is like the days of Noah to me; when I swore that the waters of Noah should not flood the earth again, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor will I rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken," says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:9-10

Eternal One,
You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Just as You were with Noah, you are with us. Cause my children to hear and receive the unshakeable promise of Your everlasting love. Give them an understanding of this love, so they can give it to others. May Your compassion flow through them, to those who also need to hear and receive Your promise.

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."

John 14: 23

Dear Lord and Savior,
I pray my children will understand that genuine LOVE for You requires whole-hearted obedience TO YOU. As they walk in obedience, open their eyes to YOUR LOVE FOR THEM - in Your word and in Your ways. Thank You that You desire to live in their hearts. I pray that You will actively shine through them as they die to self, and live for You.

O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

Dear Living Water,
I pray for my children to have a DAILY thirst for Your word. When they draw near to You, please replenish, refresh, and satisfy their seeking souls.

And He said to me, "Prophecy over these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.'"… so I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

Ezekiel 37: 4, 10

Dear Breath of Life,
I pray for my children when they experience feelings of hopelessness and dismay. Cause them to turn to Your word so that You can "breathe" new life and Your great power into their hearts and minds. May they hear Your word, and obey Your word with a thankful spirit.

Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk in it, "I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you. And I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations. To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who dwell in darkness from prison.

Isaiah 42: 5-7

Dear Creator of Heaven and Earth,
You are mighty in strength; You are awesome in power. You give each of us breath and life. Thank You for the promise of Your Spirit given to those who believe in You. I pray that my children would worship You both as the God of majesty, and at the same time, the God of MERCY. Help them to remember that You, O God, are holding their hand. Cause their hearts to humbly receive their appointed calling of sharing the gospel. Give them a compassionate desire to save the lost through the love of Jesus Christ.

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24: 45

Dear Lord Jesus,
I pray You will open my children's minds to the beautiful truths found in Your holy word. Give them insight and understanding, I pray.

The unfolding of Thy words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119: 130

Dear Radiant One,
Cause my children to crave Your word, understand Your word, and LIVE by Your word. Make them wise beyond their years, I pray.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 18: 14

Dear Holy God,
I pray my children would learn to humble themselves before You on a daily basis. Keep them aware of both Your majesty and Your mercy, causing them to worship You as their King AND Savior.

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is the God of justice; how blessed are those who long for Him… He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you.

Isaiah 30: 18-19

Dear God of Justice,
Thank You for not treating us as our sins deserve; instead, You judged Your perfect Son as "guilty" on our behalf. I pray that my children would be awed by this compassion and grace. Cause their hearts to long for You the way You long for them. May they cry out to You in their time of need, having full confidence that You will hear, and that You will come.

Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today…

Ruth 4: 14

O Lamb of God,
Thank You for taking away the sins of the world. Help my children to know that every sin, every situation, and every circumstance is beautifully redeemable when washed in Your blood of forgiveness.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5: 24

Dear Lord of Life,
Thank You that my children's hearts belong to You. Help them each to daily bring their passions and desires to You so they can be put to death at the cross. I pray You will then replace their weak flesh with Your strong Spirit.

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

I Peter 5:10

Dear God of Grace,
(I ask that) WHEN the inevitable trials of suffering and loss are experienced by each of my children in their lifetime, THEY WOULD CLING TO YOU. Through their various struggles, make them STRONGER in their faith on this earth, while keeping ETERNITY in their heart and mind.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. for the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Galatians 5: 13-14

Dear Master,
Help my children to know that freedom is found in You alone. Fill their hearts with Your love, and give them the desire to portray this love to others by serving them. Open their eyes to the needs of those around them.

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops.

Matthew 10: 27

Intimate One,
You are with us ALWAYS. Continue to speak Your loving words to the heart of my children, so they may, then, proclaim Your goodness to the world.

I have inherited Thy testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111

Dear Wise Counselor,
May Your sweet and satisfying Word become the joy of my children's heart.

Thus says the Lord, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is in the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its root by the stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in the year of the drought nor cease to yield fruit.

Jeremiah 17: 5-8

Dear Life-Giver,
I pray that my children would never walk into a situation or season of their lives by trusting in themselves alone. May they know beforehand that without You they can do nothing, and produce nothing. Keep their hearts turned towards You in humble dependence… May they each trust You fully. Cause them to dig deep into who You are, by reading and understanding Your word. And in this place of trust, may they become strong and vibrant and productive through You and FOR You.

O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable are His ways!

Romans 11: 33

Dear King Eternal,
I pray that my children will be continually awed by the depth of Your wisdom and knowledge, as well as humbled by Your incomprehensible judgments and Your wonderful ways.

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.

Micah 7: 7-8

Dear Light of Life,
I pray my children will learn how to watch and wait expectantly for You. Give them hopeful patience during a trial, trusting that You will cause them to rise once again.

"And I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart."

Jeremiah 24: 7

Dear God of Grace,
I pray that you will give my children a heart to KNOW You. May they hear and receive Your loving words of devotion: "they will be My people and I will be their God." When they wander from Your presence, please chase them down with Your love, I pray; and cause them to return to You with a whole heart.

O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones. And your sons will be taught of the Lord; and the well-being of your sons will be great.

Isaiah 54: 11-13

O God of Peace,
Please come in and steady the hearts of my children when they are weary, confused, sad, or lonely. Rebuild their faith in You, I pray. Make them beautifully strong once again, causing them to shine Your radiance into this dark world. Help them to remember nothing is impossible with You, O God.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

I Corinthians 15: 58

Dear Lord of Might,
Continue to press into the hearts of my children. Give them a driving desire to do Your will with JOY. Help them always remember that their work for You, no matter how "menial" the task may seem, is never done in vain. Encourage them, dear Lord, when they begin to lose heart.

Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Micah 7: 18-19

O God,
There is none like You! Thank You for Your compassion; thank You for Your grace; thank You for delighting in MERCY! Please Lord, convince my children that their sins have been demolished under your strong foot and hurled far from them by Your holy hand. May they wear no shame. Cover them, I pray.

Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, It is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was speaking a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!"

Matthew 17: 4-5

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Your one and only son to be the one and only Savior of the world. I pray my children would worship You alone as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Give them ears to hear Your voice, a mind to understand Your words, and a heart to obey Your commands.

…for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consist of all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 5: 8-10

Sweet Redeemer,
I humbly thank you for pulling my children out of the darkness and into Your light! I pray they will have a strong desire to daily walk in Your light, drawing from Your strength each step. Please give them a heart that seeks to please You, not themselves.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11: 6

Dear Author and Perfecter of Faith,
I pray my children will wholeheartedly believe in Your great Name. Keep their eyes fixed on You and You alone, I pray. And as their faith grows day by day, may each of them feel Your pleasure and Your blessing.

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16: 11

Dear Pleasure Giver,
Help my children to believe that YOUR PATH is full of JOY and ABUNDANT LIFE. I pray that You will give them a desire to walk with You each day.

Again therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, "I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall walk in the light of life."

John 8: 12

Dear Righteous One,
Cause my children's hearts to be drawn to Your marvelous light. Lure them with your lovingkindness, I pray. Make the dark things of this world unattractive and uninviting to their hearts and minds. Open their eyes to Your beautiful and mysterious ways.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

O Light of the World,
Cause my children to stay close to You - even when they do not understand where You are leading them. Please give them obedient faith to follow You. Cause their heart to say, "I trust You," each and every step.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6: 8

Dear Righteous One,
I pray that my children would desire to walk in the manner You have asked them to, while on this earth. Through Your Spirit, O Lord, cause them to pursue justice, to love kindness, and stay humbly close to You, O God.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Zephaniah 3:17

Dear Lord of Might,
I pray that my children would KNOW that You are always in their midst as a VICTORIOUS WARRIOR! Help them to believe that You are pleased with them - cheering for them, encouraging them, soothing them - cause them to receive YOU, I pray.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives; and freedom to the prisoners.

Isiah 61:1

Dear God in Heaven,
I thank You and praise You that Your Spirit lives in each one of my children. I ask You to rise up in them, O Lord - open their eyes to the afflicted, the brokenhearted, the lost. Make them know and understand that their PURPOSE in life is to take Your saving LOVE to the world.

I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, "You are my servant," I have chosen you not rejected you. so, do not fear, for I am with you; for I am your God. I will strengthen and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41: 9-10

Dear Ruler of the World,
Help my children recognize their VALUE in Christ - that You have CHOSEN them, and have an ASSIGNMENT for them while on this earth. Bind fear from their hearts, make them strong in YOU. Cause them to press forward, knowing that You are holding their hand.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5: 22-23

Dear Helper,
I praise You for the wonderful truth that You are ALWAYS stronger than our flesh. Please pour Your power into the hearts and minds of my children so that they can walk by Your Spirit, which is both freeing and beautiful. In their own circle of influence, I pray that each of them would exhibit YOUR love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.