A Meek and Quiet Spirit

1 Peter 3:4 : "But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

I've been fascinated with this verse since the first time I read it. It says that a meek and quiet spirit are "in the sight of God of great price". The New King James version says that a meek and quiet spirit are "very precious in the sight of God." Wow! If these  two character traits are "of great price" and "very precious" to God, they must be important. But what does it mean to be meek and quiet?

I asked my husband what he thought the words mean. He said meek means "strength, in check". Quiet means to be calm, peaceful, not troubled.  Obviously, the Lord Jesus is the epitome of meekness and quietness. He could have called 12 legions of angels to deliver Him from going to the cross. (Matthew 26:53) But He kept His strength "in check" to secure our salvation.

I find it easy to be meek and quiet - when I'm asleep.  But somehow it's much harder when I'm awake.  I usually respond to my circumstances. (Remember what John MacCarthur said about being independent from circumstance??)  I used to think that if someone/something was annoying me, I could be meek and quiet on the outside, but it was ok to be fuming on the inside. My thoughts were in turmoil.This is not true meekness and quietness; it's just faking it. A meek and quiet spirit stays calm on the outside and inside.

In Galatians 5:23, meekness is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. And I am slowly learning, with prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit, to be calm and peaceful when things go wrong or I am provoked. This has been a long process. And it's only through prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit that I've made any progress at all.

I pray that my progress will continue and that I will have a meek and quiet spirit that is "very precious in the sight of God".

Philippians 4:13:  "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."