A Gentle And Quiet Spirit

My oldest daughter had a quiet personality as she was growing up.
Not quiet with people she knew, but quiet with people she didn’t know.
Her quietness was never rude or awkward.
She was fine playing with a few friends and just as fine imagining on her own.

She likes her own company, was said about her and about me growing up, as well.
As a little girl she wrote stories and tied her books together with yarn.
She loved to draw and do creative things.
The quiet afforded her the space she needed to dream.

In her teen years, a well-meaning person asked her an interesting question.
What is it like to be quiet?
That question has been put in perspective now, but then, it was bothersome to her.

Being quiet allowed her to listen well, pay attention more, and notice things around her.
The quietness allowed her to think, and dream, and imagine.
Much fruit came out of that stillness.

Her own stillness has enabled her discern that quietness in someone else.
Discern it and be comfortable with it.
She always notices the little child in the corner with their hands in their pockets.
She is always able to lovingly draw them out with her sweet demeanor.

What is it like to be quiet?

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.
(1 Peter 3:3,4)

The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
The beauty of being a lady.

Growing up I heard those words often: Always be a lady.
A lady did not participate in vulgar talk or vulgar actions.
A lady was not one of the boys.
Bad language was excused in her presence.
Gross stories or dirty jokes, were stopped when she walked in the room.

A lady is not a doormat; she is intelligent, articulate, yet gentle in her manner.
She treasures her uniqueness as a woman.
She values the fact that God gave her the privilege of carrying life, if He sees fit.

God’s Word also describes someone who is not a lady.

Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks. She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deep of love till morning, let’s enjoy ourselves with love! (Proverbs 7:10-18)

Culture and the media promote unladylike behavior.
Shock value is important to ratings.
It is detestable to God.

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good. (Titus 1:15,16)

No one is beyond the reach of God.
The most brazen behavior is forgivable if there is true repentance.
Turning away from ungodly behavior and turning towards God.

God’s holiness must be exalted.
God’s love must be proclaimed.
God’s mercy and forgiveness must be revealed.
God’s kindness must be made known.

God’s kindness leads you toward repentance. (Romans 2:4)

The person that seems to be beyond God’s reach, is not.
God’s reach is extensive.
The vilest person, the atheist, the murderer, the terrorist are all within His reach.
He loves them.

There was a terrorist named Saul, and he killed Christians.
Saul met the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus.
Jesus revealed that Saul was actually persecuting HIM by his actions.

Brazen behavior is an affront to the Creator God.
God called everything He made, good.
God called the ones that He made in His image, very good.
They are also very lost without Him.

The world needs to see purity and wholesomeness.
It needs to see the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
That which the media promotes is actually exploitation.

It is time to say enough!
As we say enough, and as we say “No” to ungodliness, we must pray for those who exploit themselves, but are screaming for help.

God hears.