Do you ever practice “turning the other cheek?” Have you ever found yourself having to face an aggressive or combative personality? Sometimes, the right words can be just enough water to put out the kindling flame. The right words require the right frame of mind.
We don’t always have to think about allowing someone to punch us in the face when thinking about turning the other cheek. Turning the other cheek also requires having inward humility and keeping a sound head so one might respond to situations according to what is right and true, not emotions based in fear and anger.
This humility isn’t necessarily towards the individual you’re facing. This humility is to God and the Lord. We’ve all heard the expression, “For the love of God!” Well, we have to learn how to turn the other cheek for no other reason than for The Love of God. We want to do what’s right for the love of God.
We don’t want to do the wrong thing. We don’t want to hurt anyone intentionally or accidently. As children of God, we want to carry ourselves in a manner that’s most loving and wise which helps to prevent a lot of the drama and chaos in life.
Sometimes turning the other cheek means changing our frame of mind and turning from our prideful cheek to our humble cheek. It’s pride that prevents us from being humble. Sometimes we even have to humble our own egos and say I’m sorry when the injured party totally over-reacts to the situation and injures us. Yes, this also is turning the other cheek. You started it 🙂
Funny… it’s easy to think about whether or not we can humble ourselves to someone else, but who ever checks to make sure they are guarding against themselves (pride)?
So the next time you sense things are getting a little outta hand, remember the first step is to remain humble, calm, and poised. Having done this, you’ve already begun practicing turning the other cheek and just like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get.
peace and blessings,
Gil
denise says
May 8, 2011 at 1:52 pmAmen!
Norma says
May 8, 2011 at 4:07 pmThank you so much for this wonderful reminder. I think too often we go through our day like little robots and aren’t mindful of whether or not we are living as Christ would want us to.
Tomi says
July 11, 2011 at 4:17 pmI love your Mustard Seeds section. Hope you add a few of these soon as they are a great addition to your wonderful blog.
Beth says
July 25, 2011 at 4:08 pmIt is always nice to have a reminder like this to go back to and read. Especially at the end of a long day with people who aren’t the most cooperative. Thanks
Dawn Serafini says
August 7, 2011 at 12:51 pmTurning the cheek. I loved the article, and also look at the best example of Jesus who turned his cheek to the Roman Soldiers and also the Pharisees who plotted to kill him. Before he ALLOWED them to arrest him and kill him. HE CONFRONTED THEM.
Dawn Serafini says
August 7, 2011 at 12:52 pmTurning the cheek. I loved the article, and also look at the best example of Jesus who turned his cheek to the Roman Soldiers and also the Pharisees who plotted to kill him. Before he ALLOWED them to arrest him and kill him. HE CONFRONTED THEM WITH LOVE.
Sadie says
August 22, 2011 at 12:16 amNeeded this reminder. Thank you.
Melanie says
November 12, 2011 at 3:53 amI’m Wiccan but I needed this right now. My brothers friends aren’t the friends he thought they were and I sucked up with the negativeness of the situation and this made me feel better. Thanks!
Melanie says
November 12, 2011 at 3:54 amI got sucked up…
chelesa sims says
April 21, 2012 at 7:27 pmthank you for your mustard seeds . I sometimes find myself in situations that are hard to be humble. I know that words are like a double edged sword however I find that sometimes it is hard.
Meg Tucker says
September 21, 2012 at 11:24 pmI enjoy his section (Mustard Seeds) as it never fails in reminders. I have to say that when I was younger I was much more of a reactor and looking back I can clearly see that turning the other cheek was not something I regularly practiced. Thank the Lord that he has brought me full circle and has blessed me with the patience and insight to practice turning the other cheek.
Mary Dailey says
October 24, 2012 at 2:04 pmI always try to handle a sticky situation tactfully. I have never liked confrontations or arguments and, I must be doing something right because I still have friends that I’ve known forever.
Brooke says
November 3, 2012 at 11:30 amVery good advice. It’s hard to get rid of that prides sometimes!
tami s says
December 26, 2012 at 7:19 amTurning the other cheek has become easier for me as I get older. I think it is a combination of my faith getting stronger and the wisdom I gain as I age that allows me be more compassionate and have the ability to turn the other cheek
Lynnette Watkins says
December 28, 2012 at 1:05 amI do agree with your advice. When dealing with people I know are looking for a argument I let them blow off stream without reacting to it.
Helga says
February 1, 2013 at 12:38 pmYes humility is key in dealing with these kinds of people!
Jessica Lodge says
February 15, 2013 at 5:46 pmExcellent advise. It is so hard to come from a place “sense” when your emotions are involved, especially anger. It takes a lot of practice to do this but now I will also associate it with the phrase “for the love of God”,which for me will be very helpful. Thank you.
Stephanie Thompson (Free) says
March 2, 2013 at 1:10 amThat is so true! I live with some combative personalities and have learned over the years that what you say is the best way to deal with them and also the best way to take care of ones self. Drama Free Zone and having God there keeps it so.
Kathleen says
March 5, 2013 at 4:59 amThis kind of reminds me of a new favorite saying of mine; you don’t HAVE TO attend every argument you are invited to! It sure is easier said than done though…
Julia Soriano says
March 8, 2013 at 6:33 pmVery interesting article. I recently had an ex-friend turn on me in a very very vile way. Among other things, he stole and opened my mail and harassed me for months. With years of Peace Education behind me, my habit was to keep reminding myself that he is a child of God, I should let God take care of it and not let thoughts of him take space in my mind.
After almost a year of this, he finally did something the other day that finally put me over the edge. I went at him with both barrels. This is someone I have known quite well and I wrote everything I could think of in an e-mail that I knew would be hurtful to his core. I couldn’t believe I was so mean and I was so disappointed in myself for allowing this person to occupy so much of my mind.
Friends around me didn’t see the problem. They were aware of how vile this person has been to me for so long and even surprised I didn’t lash out sooner.
But I had a big problem with what I had done and started praying right away. I didn’t ask God to forgive me, because, frankly I’m not sorry and I wanted to hurt him. But I did pray that God would stay with me and help me to become a person who is stronger on the inside than I am and doesn’t lash out. I asked God to please not give up on me.
So your article was encouraging. I don’t need to necessarily turn my cheek to my abuser, but have the humility to turn my cheek to God.
Paula V says
March 9, 2013 at 12:59 pmGood stuff. I’m struggling with turning the other cheek today. Trying to not let what someone did bother me…
You should post these more often. They are really good.
Robin Wilson says
March 13, 2013 at 5:58 pmThanks for the reminder. This is something that we need to remember and be reminded of every day. There are so many times when we meet this problem these days.
MADDIE K says
March 17, 2013 at 8:19 pmSometimes we all need this reminder. I think that there is something in the bible that says “be friendly or kind (something like that) to your enemies because it is like heaping hot coals upon their head.” Sometimes I find turning the other cheek difficult at best when what I really want to do is smack the tar out of the person, of course I don’t but it is hard not to want to. Anyway, I needed this today so thank you.
Debra C says
April 4, 2013 at 2:38 pmI too find its easier as I get older! I am praying my daughter will learn this, she has to have the last word.
Michael says
June 4, 2013 at 6:44 amA soft answer will turn away wrath. Keep the most unruly member(the tongue ) in check
ANN*H says
June 20, 2013 at 1:11 pmI enjoy reading your Mustard Seeds. It gives us something to have us slow down and to think about things and show us the way.
Rosie says
June 30, 2013 at 12:26 pmI think this is an important scripture concept for today, in that many ppl feel so much more they have a right to say anything they want and have less self control. You typically can’t win with an aggressive/hostile person, anyway. It often de-escalates when you don’t engage.
lissa crane says
November 19, 2013 at 6:26 pmI really needed this advice at this point in my life -it came at just the right time! I found much comfort in your words-thank you!