Meekness

“But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.”

What does it mean to be meek? Usually this word reminds me of a little mouse that scurries by and just tries to not get stepped on. He doesn’t make much noise or have much influence on people. He is simply little, cute, and uninspiring.

Let me paint a different picture for you- a Biblical view of meekness.

Greek word for meek is praus
a. Used to describe a soothing medicine.
b. Used by sailors to describe a gentle breeze.
c. Used by farmers to describe a broken colt.

What do all these definitions have in common?
They all describe great power under control.

Imagine a ferocious lion that is sitting and waiting in place. The many different animals of the jungle may perceive him as week because the birds are landing on his head and even some of the small rodents get brave and begin to build there nest underneath his paw. There are even a few vultures that have stopped by and have begun to circle because what a meal this large lion would make and just think of the bragging rights of eating the king of the jungle alive. Most spectators would quickly come to the conclusion that this lion must be a coward or broken in some way. However, this lion is not broken as some may think. He is submitted. Meekness and humbleness have everything to do with power reserved. One command from his master and that lion would make ground meat out of these animals that would dare mock such a mighty creation.

You and I are this mighty creation. Like this lion we have been called to submit our own comfort and instincts to our master. We sit and wait for our Lord to tell us when to react and how to react. There are times in this life that you will feel that the vultures have shown up and have began eating you alive. You may feel like you have been stripped of your self-respect, but let me encourage you. There is no greater place to be waiting than in the presence of the Lord and no better voice to be waiting for, but the voice of your creator. As you wait for His guidance, let your life be one of meekness and humility. Reserved for the moment that the master gives direction. Then in that moment be ready to express the full power that God has placed inside of you, as it is in that moment that the Lord will get all the glory.

Don’t be confused. Personally, I rarely have ever felt like that great lion that I just spoke about. However, scripture is very clear that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God Himself lives with us and in us, as does the power that He wields.

The quote at the beginning of this devotional comes from Psalm 37:11. It is placed directly after we learn that David was walking through a season of his life where he was being hurt and he felt that there were some unfair situations surrounding him. He took it all and left it at the feet of the Lord. He trusted that God was bigger than the giant of confusion that he was facing.

Psalm 37:1-8
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

The Lord does have great plans for you! Simply trust in Him…

Lord,

I pray that you help each of us to keep our eyes focused on you and our hearts and minds submitted to your orders and not those actions that seem so natural to our own personalities. Like the ferocious lion that I spoke about earlier, help us submit to whatever you are asking of us. It is in that submission that we carry our cross and begin to look more and more like you.

Amen