A Meek and Quiet Spirit

Well, so much for getting back to "Captivating" the very next day. One reason it has taken me so long, is that I've literally been going page by page back through the book looking for a section I wanted to quote..and I CAN'T find it. I hate it when that happens!! But as I was going page by page, I realized how much of it I could quote. The book is overdue, and I really need to turn it in, but there is still so much I want to share. SO, if you're looking for something to read - this is a good one!!

Anyway, one of my favorite parts of this book is Stasi's explanation of the meek and quiet spirit that we are always so confused about. Stasi explains how she has always been an extrovert and a loud laugher - and felt defeated by the command to have a meek and quiet spirit. But further study into the verses helped her to understand that God never told us to have quiet personalities. He told us to have meek and quiet spirits. The meaning of "quiet" here comes from the Greek words "hed-rah'-yos" and "hay-soo'-khee-os", meaning: settled, steadfast, immovable, at rest, peacable spirit. We are told to be at rest in our spirits, to be settled, not striving. Wow! That is a much bigger challenge than just being outwardly quiet, but has much broader results in our actions. "Meek" is translated humble and mild. My favorite definition: "power under control."

The traditional church has often twisted this verse to stomp on women who are bold, extroverted, warriors - letting them know that we are supposed to be week and quiet. But that is a lie and a total misinterpretation of God's Word. He has not made every woman quiet or week. He has made many loud and strong. But loud and strong doesn't have to be opposite of humble and at rest. A woman who understands who God made her to be can be humble, keeping her power under control, and only using it for God's purposes - because she isn't inwardly striving herself. She is completely at rest and only brings out the big guns when God says it is time, and then only in humility and under God's control. Part of God's design was for women to be warriors. You can understand that when you really examine the anologies of the bride of Christ. The bride is under attack, and needs to be engaged in warfare.

I could go on and on. "Captivating" has answered so many internal question I've had personally, about a strong, woman living surrounded by the influence of big men and littlel men. I've struggled to look for the purpose in femininity and reconcile it with his design for my life. So many questions have been answered. It is powerful to replace the lies you have believed with truth.