A Gentle and Quiet Spirit
1 Peter 3:4
but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
For what feels like the longest time, I have always wondered what it meant to have a gentle and quiet spirit. Since being in my early twenties, I would often marvel at that scripture. I knew that it was a personality trait that was very precious to God but how did I get it? How do I become the woman that has a gentle and quiet spirit?
Carrying out my research (which I’m still doing), I’m learning that it doesn’t mean to be silent and not make any noise whatsoever. No! A woman of this kind can still be bold and expressive in what she is doing for the Lord but accompanying all that she does, there is a gentleness, a quietness, a meekness that she exudes everywhere she goes.
So… one of the attributes mentioned was meekness. But what exactly does it mean to be meek?
Well, I’m glad you’ve asked. Sort of.
I wish I had a solid answer for you but I’m still waiting to find a firm example of meekness myself. Google, ever so helpful, says meekness is, ‘the fact or condition of being meek; submissive’. THAT did not help me either. But then, there are some synonyms attached to the word: patient, long-suffering, forbearance, resignation, gentleness.
Looking at these synonyms made it dawn on me… a gentle and quiet spirit is less to do with the volume of your voice and more to do with the posture of your heart! The synonyms for meekness link so closely with the Fruits of the Spirit:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23].
Having a gentle and quiet spirit means that we show these qualities.
My NKJV Study Bible explains that ‘Peter was encouraging Christian wives to have 'an attitude that was soothing and tranquil’. I think that’s beautiful: that we, as women, can have soothing and tranquil qualities that are used to bring peace into our homes, workplaces or wherever we decide to venture. That is a quality and a gift that we shouldn’t take lightly - it is an important quality to have.
Furthermore, we don't need to attempt to force these personality traits on ourselves. That would definitely be the wrong way to go about it and that would only lead to something that is temporary. Instead, we can pray and ask the Lord to shape our hearts so that we can become women who have a gentle and quiet spirit - something that is very pleasing & precious to Him! Isn’t that amazing?! We can pray and ask God to gift us with personality traits that He sees as precious. And when we get them, we cannot boast that we are meek, gentle, patient etc because we didn’t give it to ourselves. That is true, inner beauty.
Dear Lord,
You see my flaws and my weaknesses. You see every single part of me but You look at me through the lense of love and for that I’m so grateful. You see me fully; You formed me in my mother’s womb and each day of my life is written in Your book. You are so intentional about every detail of my life and You so lovingly direct me in all that You want me to do. If I don’t know which way to go, all I have to do is ask.
Today, I ask that You help me to have a gentle and quiet spirit. In Your word, Lord, it says that this is very precious in Your sight. Shape my heart and mould it so that it may look more like You, so that where ever I go I’ll be salt and light, reflecting Your beautiful, selfless and unconditional love to all those I encounter. Please gift me with the Fruits of the Spirit. I ask this Lord, so that even the personality traits that I have will be ones that bring You glory. Thank You for all You have done for me. I love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
