On Monday’s post How to Seek Guidance we concluded that only when we are meek we are ready for God’s guidance. Otherwise we are not in a condition to apprehend his guidance. So we really want to become meek, right? How to do that? That’s the quest for today. First, I want to address what meekness is and is not. Then we talk about how we can become meek.

Meekness is not weakness. Instead, Meekness is power under control as Warren Wiersbe puts it. When we become meek, we don’t lose our power, we surrender it to God. Meekness is neither a passive resignation to fate. It is hopeful endurance and complete trust in God instead.

According to the Bible, meekness is one of the fruit of the spirit and we are to pursue them all.

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (Gal. 5:22-23, AMP, emphasis added)

Because meekness is also an attribute of Jesus. And we are called to become like him.

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (Matthew 11:29, AMP, emphasis added)

The blessings for meek are abundant. Not only the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5), they will also find rest, relief, ease, refreshment, recreation and blessed quiet for their souls. And they are enabled to be led by the Holy Spirit. All things that I am more than happy to receive. How about you?

Are we now ready to talk about how to become meek then? I think so too. The best advice we get from John the Baptist: He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30, CEB, emphasis added).

In order to become meek, Jesus must increase and I must decrease. It’s a must, friends. A must. There’s no other way.

If we are baptized, the Holy Spirit is always with us. But if we are full of ourselves, there’s no much room for the Holy Spirit to work within us. If we want to become meek, we need to make room for God. We must decrease, Jesus must increase. When we are full of the Holy Spirit, we are meek indeed.

Just note that becoming meek is an ongoing process. It starts all over again every morning by surrendering to God. (I will blog about this process of decreasing on Friday). But also remember this: when Jesus increases, your joy increases. There’s nothing better than being meek.

Gracious God,
Your ways are so wonderful.Help us to trust your guidance.
May we dare to let Jesus increase.
Make us meek,
give us joy upon joy
according to your plan for us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you found joy in meekness?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you learn to love meekness as the way of life!

Image courtesy of Mari-Anna Stålnacke.  Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.