Just as a soldier’s sturdy boots makes for balance and stability, putting on the shoes of peace as an armor provides a base, foundation, stability and calm confidence.

Merriam-Webster’ definition of meekness would be my best dictionary definition….

“the quality or state of being meek : a mild, moderate, humble, or submissive quality.”

This definition is quite close to the Biblical meaning of the word….

Meekness is quietness and gentleness of spirit. It is an inward gracing and temper of spirit that manifests physically. Meekness (gentleness/quietness) is part of the fruit of the Spirit….

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!“
Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT

It’s interesting to note that meekness is often listed or mentioned alongside humility in the Bible. Humility here meaning; the fear (reverence) of the Lord and the expression of God’s kind of love towards others.

We are admonished as disciples of Jesus Christ to exhibit the good virtue of meekness …

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
Colossians 3:12‭-‬14 NKJV

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love”
Ephesians 4:1‭-‬2 NKJV

Below is a quote from Vines about meekness…. I love it…

“Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.”

So underlying meekness is selflessness. Selflessness is an attribute of humility. People who put themselves in the centre of everything struggle with selflessness, humility, agape and meekness.

Meekness and humility don’t just come naturally, no mere human is naturally all of these things. Jesus was described this way…

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29 NKJV

“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ— who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.”
II Corinthians 10:1 NKJV

And there lies the good news, if Jesus was all of these things and He lives in us, then we can be all of these things…Halleluyah!

1 Peter 3: 4 describes meekness as the ornament of the spirit…

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
I Peter 3:3‭-‬4 NKJV

“but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.”
1 Peter 3:4 AMP

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
1 Peter 3:3‭-‬4 NLT

Just as an aside, I believe every woman was created beautiful. A woman should look simple, smart and beautiful. However there’s an ‘exessiveness’ and busyness of looking beautiful that is absolutely distracting….both for men and women (selah).

A gentle and quiet spirit is attractive, even to God. And it manifests physically, even in our dressing……

One of the first things I heard God say to me was; ‘in quietness is your strength’……I love the woman on the cover page of Francine Rivers’ book, The Scarlet Thread…..

There is a seeming quietness around her, she looks really calm and peaceful. Arnold (my husband) says she must have worked really hard to be comfortably seated like that….Well, I am working hard!…..?.

Back in University days some of my colleagues nicknamed me ‘cool, calm, calculated’…., that’s how it seemed physically, but they were so wrong, …..if only they knew the wars I had within…. thank God for the Holy Spirit at work in us.

In meekness, we are more pliable to the Word of God; our spirit as led by God’s Spirit gains more dominance over our minds, emotions and intellect.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls.“
James 1:21 NKJV

And there is an abundance of peace for the meek…

“But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.“
Psalms 37:11 NKJV

‘I BELIEVE’ is All Jesus ever looked for in order to heal (John 9:35, Mark 11:24, James 2:19, John 11:26, etc).

A Vessel of Honor and Grace is a person embodying a particular quality, attribute, trait, gift or talent for the service of God and the benefit of mankind, who receives and communicates only the wisdom and counsel of God derived from the Word and the Spirit. Any disciple of Jesus Christ can become this vessel

I recently heard about a thief who crawled from house to house in a highly guarded neighbourhood. A few times residents came face to face with this assailant as he quickly brushed past them disappearing into thin air only to reappear in another house. One or two persons registered a sketchy face description in their minds.

When I heard the story it sounded both dumb and ridiculous. What a dumb thief he must be! I mean people already saw him and being a closely-knit and cliquish neighbourhood, words would soon go round. Wouldn’t be long before someone identified him and pointed him out to the security parading the streets. Dumb thief.

You know that’s the kind of thief Jesus spoke about in John 10:10..

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].”
John 10:10 AMP

John 10:10 thief comes (present continuous tense) and keeps coming, and coming, ….what a dumb thief!

Oh! I thank God that Jesus came. And He came (past tense).

One coming of Jesus was all that was needed. He came that we might have life and have life more abundantly. Jesus came once, and that one coming was enough to secure our salvation, healing, peace, wealth and all things that pertains to life and godliness.

“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9:12 NKJV

Why am I so excited today that Jesus came ?

Because the thief always comes with an agenda. No, he didn’t just stop by to see how things are with you…na… He comes to steal, kill and destroy.

To steal our health, take away our peace, joy, hope etc…and subsequently kill and destroy our destiny.

Ah! Ah!! Thank God Jesus came…

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

Jesus came, got wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity. Now we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. No sin, no penalty, no death. Aha!

Jesus came, took upon Himself all harassment, anxiety, punishment and reprimand that should have come to us. Instead, He gave us peace, His peace, not the type the world gives, no, the peace that passes all understanding.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.“
John 14:27 NKJV

Thank God Jesus came…

He came, carried all our wounds in His own body, now we are healed by His Stripes.

I am so thankful that Jesus came.

Therefore any time this dumb thief crawls into our neighbourhood we lift high our banner of victory (The Name of Jesus) bought by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,”
Philippians 2:9‭-‬10 NKJV

Thank God Jesus came.

Today, I have life and life more abundantly. I walk in health, peace, love, power, soundness of mind. Because the One in me is greater, I am greater.

Thank You Jesus❤

My prayer, my heart cry. My honest desire and hope. All of YOU in me, Jesus.

Every self erased. No hurt harboured, no bitterness, resentment, anger, pain, envy, jealousy. No place in me for the expression of self and carnality. All of YOU Jesus.

All of Your love. All of Your faith. All of your passion and commitment to the Father’s Business. All of Your grace.

All of Your peace. All of the healing You bought for me. All of Your manifest provision and abundance, to accomplish the job You have entrusted to my care. That Your people may know You Jesus. And that they may know the Father. That they may appreciate the dept of Your great love with which You loved them. That they may find hope, love and peace in You. All of You Jesus. Until my job is done.

Done, dusted and delivered fully. Nothing left undone. Done in good health and strength, because the number of my days have been set by You; nothing and no one can change it. I am kept safe in the Father through You Jesus. You renew my youth like the eagle’s. My Lord and Saviour.

Gold, gold, pure gold, that’s how I am coming out. Pure gold, refined by the Master Himself. Fit for purpose. Built to last. Unrestrained, unstoppable, undeterred, undaunted and yet meek and lowly.

All of YOU in me Jesus. All of YOU❤

I don’t really know much about the parts of a ship so I cannot say if the stern of every ship is a resting point. What I can say though is that the stern of ship where Jesus lay, asleep in the midst of a storm, was a place of faith, trust, peace and rest.