2.17.2012

A gentle and quiet spirit...what does it mean?

"....but let your adornment 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." -1 Peter 3:4   

We were talking about this verse awhile ago in my Sunday School class, and I got to thinking: What is a gentle and quiet spirit?

Anybody who knows me knows that I am very social and most of the time, not very quiet. (Okay, I admit it!)
But I don't think that this verse means to literally "be quiet" as it does to just have a kind, loving nature. To think of others before yourself, to be a warm, loving, and nurturing person who loves the Lord.

I'm going to be honest here: I struggle sometimes with my attitude, my patience, my thoughts, etc. I am too quick to think a hurtful thought about somebody that gets on my nerves or hurts me in some way, instead of showing them love and grace. I often wish that I could be more patient with my siblings, my friends, with things that get in the way of what I want. The only way that I will be able to do this is with God's help; I have to constantly go to Him and ask Him to help me to be more patient, to be more loving, to be more kind.

There are women in my life who I look at and think, "How did you get to be this way? How are you so godly and self-controlled?" I know that may sound like a silly question, but seriously: How do they get to be that way? I guess God taught them things throughout their life, put other godly women into their lives, and used all of those things to shape them into what He wanted them to become.

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." ~Isaiah 64:8

God is shaping all of us to become what He wants us to be. God has a plan for our lives, and He is growing me and you, helping us to learn to lean on and trust Him.

These are just some thoughts that I thought I'd share. :)

1 comment:

Keely said...

Thanks so much Alley for that encouragement. That made me feel even closer to you! Wow, do I struggle in that area too....