A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT

I have been looking for a gentle and quiet spirit ever since I found out about it. In the New Testament book of 1 Peter 3:3-4 it says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." I don't believe this passage is saying it is wrong to style your hair or wear jewelry or nice clothes. But I do believe it is saying those things are not true beauty, they are only skin deep. It is what is in our hearts that makes us beautiful...or not.

I keep finding myself coming back to this verse over the years. A "gentle and quiet spirit" is hard to find and just when I think I've got it, it slips through my fingers again. Because it is "of great worth in God's sight", I want this quality very much, but it doesn't come naturally to me. My understanding of "gentle and quiet" is being calm and peaceful, not easily provoked or irritated. I respond to my circumstances and react to others, usually immediately in the heat of the moment. There have been a few times when I've kept my mouth shut but I didn't feel gentle and quiet on the inside. And it showed. So that's not a true gentle and quiet spirit.

I've come to the conclusion that this is not something I can create or produce on my own. I have the desire but not the ability to achieve the desired results. So where does that leave me? Right where I want to be -- in God's hands. I've had to give this desire to Him and ask that He would do the work in me of transforming my spirit. I trust that this is His good and perfect will for me.