Monday, December 1, 2014

Decorate Your Life with Meekness


Christmas is coming soon. We will all be decorating our homes. Have you ever noticed how plain your Christmas tree is until you put ornaments on it? Ornaments make it beautiful. What truly makes a woman beautiful? What ornament does God command that women use to make themselves beautiful in His eyes? The KJV of the Bible states that women should be characterized with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." 

Many other versions translate "meek" into "gentle." Meek is a powerful word that is packed full with meaning that encompasses gentleness, but a whole lot more. Becoming meek is becoming like Jesus. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls {Matthew 11:29}.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss did an entire series on women developing a meek spirit. I studied the entire series and am going to summarize it in two posts for you. If you have time, I encourage you to do the whole series also. It is powerful and very convicting. If you work on becoming meek, you will automatically become submissive to your husband and gentle with others. It is a VERY important ornament to decorate your life with. It is the BEST gift you can give to your husband and others!

Most women have a problem with talking too much; meekness, on the other hand, means you don't overwhelm others with words by talking fast and intensely. You don't run others over with rough words and by steamrolling them with your opinions. Instead, you are kind and considerate {Colossians 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:11}. The opposite of meekness is self-assertiveness; standing up for your rights, demanding, speaking your mind and having it your way. All of these things are championed in today's culture. Young women are taught to be characterized by these qualities which are in complete opposition to meekness which is teachable, humble and open to counsel. 

I know this to be true. I have been mentoring women for ten years now. It isn't an easy thing to do today with the opinionated and self-assertive young women. Many don't want to learn from me and think they know better. However, if they continue to listen to God's Word, I have seen hearts soften and a willingness to learn. It is a beautiful thing!

Many believe that being meek is being weak. This is completely false. Meekness is not being mousy, spineless, having no opinions, weak, fragile, wimpy, brainless or pitiful. A Bible dictionary defines it this way; "Meekness is an attitude of humility towards God and gentleness towards people, springing from a recognition that God is in control." The Webster-Miriam dictionary defines it this way; "Meekness is enduring injury with patience and without resentment." Matthew Henry wrote, "Meekness is a gracious, easiness of spirit. It accommodates the soul to every occurrence and so makes a man easy to himself and to all about him." In other words, don't make others uptight! Make it easy and comfortable for others to be with you.

Do you know any meek women? How would you describe them? I would love for any of you to describe women in your life who are meek in the comment section. I bet you love being around them. They may not be beautiful in the world's eyes, but they are sure beautiful in yours! 

HERE is the follow up post on meekness!

Comments (22)

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I love this. I also totally agree that a woman that fits this description of meekness is always pleasant to be around. The women that I can think of that I have known like this are of the older generation. Sadly, our world has turned most women into the very opposite. I have even seen that a number of the older generation of women have changed and are not as meek as they used to be. I assume they have been influenced by the younger ones, TV, and such.
I believe the more I have followed your blog and am trying to follow through with your advice, I have become more meek. I thank you, because it does make life more pleasant. Not only for myself but all others that I am with. Keep it coming Lori. There are so many of us that need you and all if your wise and sound advice. Blessings to you and yours always.
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Thank you so much, Kathy. I am teaching myself as I go along, also. Meekness is something the majority of women need to work on but we CAN do it! We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. Yes, it will take practice but practice makes perfect!
I like how you say meekness is not being mousy, spineless, having no opinion, weak, brainless, etc. In my experience, women who come across as meek and gentle are the most wise.

Meekness is an aquired skill, not something you're born with like natural shyness for example. Thanks for this great reminder Lori!

The woman that comes to mind when reading this is my husband's cousin. She is young and newly married. She is inviting, always smiling, witty, funny, pretty, nice and seems to embody all of these things about meekness that you describe. From the very minute I first met her she was highly admired by me. My husband has always admired her too. This type of personality is attractive to men.
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Oh, how I wish I were taught theses godly characteristics when I was a young women. How much easier all those in my life would have had it, especially my family. Thankfully, God is a God of transforming power and can work mightily in our lives if we want Him to. It's never too late to become a godly, meek woman of God. Thank goodness!
Kathy in Illinois's avatar

Kathy in Illinois · 539 weeks ago

A lovely post, Lori. I know a lady who is the definition of meek- quiet and gentle all the time, and loved by everyone. She's my cousin and I went to her funeral this past Friday. She was 88 and the Church was packed.
Thank you for the reminder.
God bless, Kathy in Illinois
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Wonderful, Kathy. It's great to have a godly, meek woman in your life that can be an example to others. We need more of them.
Lori, I am on the 3rd session already and am very convicted and the Holy Spirit is giving me plenty practise daily. Glad you enjoyed it too.
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Thank you for sharing this series in the chat room, Wendy. I spent all day on Friday reading all of them. They are SO good. This is the benefit of having all the children grown up and gone and I think it is why God commands older women to teach young women; we have the time!
Meekness is such a virtue. I love spending time with other believers who are meek: they make me feel easy, comfortable and able to relate warmly to them. I'm not really a talking-too-much woman, but I'm sure there are lots of other dos and don'ts for developing Christlike meekness
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Yes, Patt, there are. Being in God's Word consistently, studying how the word "meek" is used in the Bible, asking God to make you meek, and even reading Nancy's series on it helps. We need to have teachable spirits and keeping seeking ways to become more Christlike, with His strength, of course!
FREEINDEED's avatar

FREEINDEED · 539 weeks ago

I have always had a very enthusiastic, friendly, passionate personality. I care deeply for people and LOVE being with them. It excites me so much to run into people I haven't seen is some time.

I recently ran into a man that I went to elementary school with. He recognized me and approached me. I was so excited to see him I was in tears. He was such a good friend to me when I was a child! And we haven't seen one another for several decades! His family was looking at me like I was so bizarre to be so excited. There have been many times in my life like this where I felt like my personality was just "too much" for some people.

My mother in law told a story over Thanksgiving about how enthusiastic I was to introduce myself to her as a pre-teen. How I just bounced up to them and introduced myself, informing them that I was their son's friend! The impression she did of me was loud and exaggerated and non-complimentary.

I guess I struggle, Lori, with my natural passion, friendliness, and enthusiasm. I know that it is good to be meek but I am NOT meek!! And as hard as I try,pray, give it to Yahweh, HE is not changing that about me at this time. I am also passionate and enthusiastic about HIM - maybe he just made me that way!?!
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
i think you can still be meek and be enthusiastic, friendly, and passionate. These are all great qualities in my mind unless you use them to steamroll over others. Are you kind and considerate in your enthusiasm? Are you demanding, giving them a piece of your mind and always wanting your way? These are the opposite of meekness; not what you describe. Whatever God commands of us, He gives us the strength to obey since He tells us that His commands aren't burdensome. It seems to me that you can still be meek and have the qualities you possess.
FREEINDEED's avatar

FREEINDEED · 539 weeks ago

Thanks, Lori!
I have never thought I was a meek person, but I do understand what you are saying, so maybe I am after all! WooHoo!

Of course, because of my spirited personality, I know have been some of those awful things you mentioned at times too :( Praise Yahweh for His Grace!
3 replies · active 539 weeks ago
I used to be an extremely outgoing and spirited person until I married my now grumpy and relatively controlling husband which has sucked nearly all of that exuberance from me. I LOVE people and God, and his spirit used to just exude from me! I have been on a respect journey for some time now and I've been learning a ton about surrender, meekness, etc. While I do think that the dynamic of our relationship is quite unhealthy in regard to what it's done to my personality, what has become evident to me, looking back, is that some of that exuberance was attention seeking. I was often told that a room would light up when I walked into it or when I smiled. Naturally, that fed my ego, so I was "on" a lot. I had a lot more highs and lows. While I miss the old me, I'm morphing into a more steady, quieter woman, which actually may just be a sign of maturity. Or maybe just being emotionally weary. :)- Nevertheless, I'm getting comfortable in it. (I'm not trying to say you might be attention seeking...just saying I can relate to your exuberance and sharing my experience with this.)
FREEINDEED's avatar

FREEINDEED · 539 weeks ago

Hi Anonymous! I didn't take offense. My story is very similar to yours. Sadly, after my mother in law imitated me the way she did, I reacted defensively and mentioned to her how her she shouldn't worry about any further enthusiasm from me, because her son had managed to correct it over the years. I am not proud of that at all, but I do know what you mean about joy-suckers. And despite them, I really think Father is calling many of His formerly rebellious daughters to submission under His perfectly ordered authority. I have heard the same story from many women.

You may be right about the attention seeking. I will earnestly pray that He will show me the motivations of my enthusiasm, and that they may always remain pure. Thank you!
One of the characteristics of meekness is that it waits for God to bring about justice. That has liberated my life. I used to be one of those people who was very sensitive to perceived "insults" from everyone, be it family or strangers. I felt like I always had to have a good "retort" to defend myself, and when I couldn't think of a good comeback/response, which was often, I would simmer with anger and rage for a long time. I was not a pleasant person to be around; I was always uptight. Then I came across a verse in Proverbs that says "a prudent man overlooks an insult". That is one of the most practical verses I've learned, and I wish I had known that years ago. Now, whenever someone says or does something to me that I don't like, I just remind myself that God is up there seeing everything, and I will leave it to him and go about my merry way. I am SO much more relaxed and peaceful now, because I don't have to constantly worry about how to "stand up for myself". I am free to be kind to people without being hindered by the concern that I need to address something that I perceive they did/said to me. I just leave that part to God. I am God's workmanship, created to do good works. That's my only job.
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
Wonderful words, Sheree. The Bible also says that love is not easily offended. In our society, people are offended about everything! As we, who call ourselves Christ followers, don't get offended easily, we shine the light of Christ to others. Leaving it all in His hands to figure it all out is trusting Him and His goodness.
Great post. I'll have to look into that series. I was raised to be anything but meek. I certainly need to continue to grow in that regard. I appreciate that you said that meekness is not synonymous with weakness. Neither is being submissive.

I really don't know many women who I would truly describe as meek. My neighbor is one of those few I do know. She is the meekest lady I have ever met. I often tell my husband I feel like a bull in a china shop when I'm with her. But she is gracious and puts up with me. She is truly a lovely lady, who I would love to learn more from, although we are about the same age.

Thank you for the challenge.
1 reply · active 539 weeks ago
I was so happy to see your comment, Amanda. I hope you're feeling better! There is a woman in our church that I have become close to. She is about 15 years older than me and I consider her my mentor. If I need advice, I go to her. She is a meek woman! {Manuka Honey is the MOST amazing stuff to kill germs in the body and on the body. Whenever my kids wake up with a slight sore throat, they take a teaspoon and get better. Here's a link if you're interested ~ http://www.amazon.com/Wedderspoon-Manuka-Honey-Ac...
Thanks Lori. I've heard of the honey before, I've not bought any. I use local raw honey a lot for such purposes. But I will look at this.
My aunts and mother have been wonderful role models in both meekness and gentleness. However only my mother and an aunt of 86 are left of these women and I fear that the younger women in our family don't have the same Goldly role models that I had. I think women forget that being meek and gentle does not mean dull, quiet, a wall flower and lacking in intelligences and enthusiasm. One must continue to laugh and be full of life, it's what keeps us going.

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