What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Have a Quiet Heart
Invincible peace. Lasting contentment. Quiet dignity. A sense of being loved, sheltered, and empowered by God. God ordained this for His people. Christ commanded it (John 14:1). We crave it. But why do so few of us experience it? Why do difficulties keep causing us to writhe in turmoil and anxiety? Why does it so often seem that Christianity isn’t all it’s made out to be? How to Have a Quiet Heart offers solid, biblical answers to these questionings and longings. By modernizing the classic Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit, written by eminent Christian leader Matthew Henry (1662-1714), this book equips the reader to face a troubling, infuriating world with calm assurance and trust in God. The key to this assurance is no secret. But to find it, we must step onto the path God’s Word points us toward. It is the only one that will get us to the destination we seek. Jesus took this route during His earthly life. Even now, after being exalted to the highest place in heaven, He still keeps one foot on this extraordinary path. It is, as described by Matthew Henry, the way of meekness and quietness of spirit. Come, check it out, and witness the surprising exaltation it will lead you toward. Follow it and see how it moves you away from anger and fear. Walk in close step with Christ and begin to experience the joy-infused peace He bequeathed to all who believe.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 2, 2014
1. Instead of learning how to have peace that is not dependent on circumstances, we train ourselves to remedy the situation according to our desires.
2.
is through the practice of godly meekness that one has lasting inner peace.
3.
Matthew Henry, A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit [1698], renamed The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit [Grand Rapids 3, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
4.
OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARD OTHERS REVEALS what we are within. Our words spill out the contents of the heart for all to see (Matthew 12:34) and our actions betray any lack of authenticity in them.
5.
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” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
6.
Our worship is to come from the core of our being, operating on the principle of God’s grace. This teaching directs our inner devotional life and worship of God. But we are also called to live our outward lives in the same truth and purity of heart, based on the same principle of grace.
7.
In our relationships, then, there is no room for pretense or hypocrisy; our love for others is to be genuine.
8.
“Take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” ~ Malachi 2:16 We deal with our inner self to make our outward actions what they should be.
9.
If the quality of meekness and quietness is so important to God that Jesus commanded it; if the Bible tells us that it is precious in God’s sight; and if our highest honor, whether we live or die, is to be “well pleasing” (2 Corinthians 5:9) to the Lord, then we have every reason to seek this quality that God has so highly commended to us.
10.
Quietness of spirit is a manifestation of meekness—to have peace within, we must first practice meekness by humbling ourselves before God and putting others ahead of us.
11.
The quality of meekness may be loosely defined as easiness of spirit.
12.
there will be no fear of being hurt, because there will be nothing to cause harm (v. 9). And the same peace can be had within our spirits and among our Christian relationships now when each of us allows meekness to govern our hearts.
13.
Meekness supplies us with a determination not to fight against the One who made us and who knows what is best. It causes us to make a firm and permanent commitment never to tell Him how things should be—because He knows better than we do. Meekness, then, brings to the situation a silent and heartfelt consent to our great God and Master.
14.
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” ~ Job 23:10 Job was not bragging about his own virtue. No, he was showing meekness. He knew enough of God’s ways to understand that he was being tested. And he knew that God’s grace would enable him to pass the test with untainted and glorious success.
15.
Part of His work is to teach us how to keep our emotions in submission to our walk with God and to rational thinking that reflects His mindset.
16.
The Bible states what God desires for and expects of us: “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way” (Proverbs 14:8). Wise individuals stop and think ahead about where the path they are choosing will lead them, and they exercise good sense before proceeding.
17.
When anger makes us want to deal immediately with a situation, the law of meekness counsels us to think things over first, find out both sides of the story, and develop a sound viewpoint concerning the matter.
18.
When we are greatly offended, it is wise to explain the matter to some individuals we respect and give them a chance to consider the situation and give advice before we take action.
19.
As long as we do not go to them, supposedly seeking advice but with the real motive of spreading dissension, the practice of delaying action by seeking counsel is a demonstration of meekness that is pleasing to God.
20.
he chose to willingly consider what they had to say because he knew that just as God had made him, so He had made them—they had just as much right to be heard and respected as he had (Job 31:13-15). We will do well to keep this concept in mind when others approach us about issues, especially when we do not like what they are saying.
21.
it is good to ask ourselves the same question God asked Cain when he was upset: “Why are you angry?” (Genesis 4:6). Furthermore, we should ask, Why am I so quickly angered? What is the reason for the anger? Is it really worth it to be so angry? Or, is my anger unjustified (as Jonah’s was when he became outraged that a shade-producing vine had died overnight—Jonah 4:7-9)? Must I be angry to the core of my being because of such a temporary and fleeting provocation? Can’t I quiet myself and let calmer thoughts take over, to correct this hasty anger?
22.
There are situations that call for us to express our disapproval of another’s action, but this must be done without becoming greatly disturbed about it and destroying our own peace. There is no need for us to tear ourselves apart in our anger.
23.
In confronting others, emotions may become heated. But if we are meek, our meekness will fortify the stronghold of our heart against their provocations and hurtful responses so they do us no great harm. No one has the power to take away our peace unless we allow it to happen.
24.
Meekness is an aspect of the faith that helps us to keep possession of our souls. It enables us to exercise self-control and maintain our sense of peace, and by so doing, it prevents us from losing the inheritance of soul-rest that was promised to God’s children (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:3, 11). Even when everything seems to be out of kilter, God’s promised peace and rest that come through the grace of meekness keep us from being overcome by our circumstances.
25.
unbelief is nothing less than arrogance toward God.
26.
if we wish to exercise faith in God and honor Him with our lives, we must be consistent in our practice of meekness.
27.
even if our assessment of a given person or situation is accurate, thoughts expressed in the heat of the moment usually give more reason than anything else for repentance later on.
28.
meekness causes us to examine ourselves to be sure that no bitterness is taking hold in our hearts, bitterness that would not only corrupt us but would leak out in our conversations with others and corrupt them as well.
29.
Our relationships will be much more enjoyable when we develop this art of obliging others,
30.
we must never deliberately expose anyone’s weaknesses in any way, for such action only reveals our own sinfulness.
31.
Damage is done by the words we say, but seldom are we worse off for remaining silent.
32.
If we are meek, however, we will make ourselves like a beach’s soft sand that receives the waves without making a big commotion and sends them back to the sea without damage.
33.
In situations where we are truly at fault and others have good reason to be angry with us (though we may not be as much at fault as they are claiming), it is important to be apologetic, humble, submissive, and ready and willing to admit our shortcomings and to change our ways. We must not try to vindicate ourselves, for doing so will only magnify our error rather than excuse it; we will bring on ourselves more condemnation, not justification, for what we have said or done that made the others angry in the first place.
34.
God’s peace is present in the “quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:18)
35.
The path on which Jesus calls us to set our feet is the same one that the book of Proverbs recommends to us, for both put the same sweet and gracious yoke on us. Set forth as the way of wisdom, Proverbs describes it as a most desirable path: Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. ~ Proverbs 3:17
36.
Wisdom has such power and effectiveness that it does not need to use force to get its message across; the good sense that wisdom promotes wins the day quietly.
37.
wisdom has the power to bring quietness to our hearts, for it teaches us to utilize the graces God has freely given us, graces that supply peace and order within.
38.
It is when we fear sin more than we fear the possibility of being disgraced that we are truly brave and heroic, for it takes courage to choose to suffer at the hands of others rather than choosing to sin or to allow oneself to be considered a fool rather than engaging in a heated argument.
39.
Weak individuals often feel anxious and show irritation—and they irritate others in the process. But it is far beneath the ability and responsibility of Christians to act that way.
40.
Meek and quiet individuals who, in trust, keep a sense of peace and steadiness in the midst of provocation are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4)
41.
Even among people, while meekness may not bring us a great name (fame), it will earn us a good name (the reputation of being a high-quality person).
42.
Those who, through meekness, are easy for others to be around find it easy to live with themselves.
43.
This approach calls for maturity. Christ is meek and does not react to every offense done against Him. He offers grace and second chances again and again. That is what it is to be longsuffering—and that is what we are called to. This approach nails to the cross our sinful, self-centered nature that cannot tolerate any offense, and it invites Christ to have His way in us (Galatians 2:20). It
44.
Many of those who do not have this inner contentment worry so much that they cannot relax at any time, day or night, and restful sleep is seemingly impossible.
45.
We have more comfort, satisfaction, and peace when we forgive many offenses than when we avenge one.
46.
angry people are not capable of being sociable since they take offense at every little thing. The person who is opposed to everyone is also opposed by everyone (as the Angel of the LORD predicted that Ishmael would be—Genesis 16:12), generating constant turmoil. But meekness holds society together and gives Christians unity.
47.
Because of the imperfections of everyone (even godly Christians), no friendship or good working relationship can be maintained without making allowances for one another. Meekness takes the weaknesses of others into consideration, and by so doing, prevents disagreements and feelings of estrangement.
48.
We must not allow loud emotions to gain control of our soul; they drown out the sound of His voice and destroy our peace in the process.
49.
Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. ~ Psalm 116:7
50.
When approached about an issue, meekness simply means being humbly open to anything God wants to teach us and refusing to get ruffled.
51.
When we are meek, we are easygoing concerning the provocations that come from others; other than looking to see if God has something to teach us through them, we are not very much affected by them in the first place.
52.
The Bible teaches that the wise ward off anger (Proverbs 29:8), but the words of the foolish escalate conflict and deserve punishment (18:6). It is to our credit when we avoid or stop friction that others have started (20:3), but we only expose our own foolishness when we keep the conflict going by relentlessly continuing on with issues that should be dropped.
53.
If we choose meekness, however, then even if it seems that we are being walked over, everyone is kept safe, for the matter is resolved or is at least ended without escalating into a bigger problem that could cause great harm to all.
54.
the meek commonly fare much better than do others. They move through their lives (even through troubling times) quietly safe and secure, while the disorderly and rebellious find themselves hopelessly ensnared by disturbing circumstances.
55.
When we reject malicious thoughts and refuse to envy others, speak evil of them, or consider ourselves better than they are, when we put aside all negativity toward people and become like babies in the sense of being innocent and blameless in our dealings with them, then we are in the best possible position to receive “the pure milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby”
56.
quietness opens the way for God to reach our hearts.
57.
without meekness, we fail to have the holy hands He requires.
58.
it is only the quiet and meek who find rest in Christ every day. To have this perpetual sense of rest, we must replace the “leaven of malice and wickedness … with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8) and figuratively partake of the Lord’s Supper throughout our lifetimes by quietly abiding in Him (feeding on Him as our source of life) each day.
59.
The meek and quiet heart enjoys emotional stability, which in turn provides an additional benefit: it keeps the person in a state of readiness to discuss spiritual matters with others. In contrast, hot-tempered Christians are inconsistent in their profession of faith, like one who is burning up with fever one moment, only to be overcome by chills the next. When calm, they may talk about Christ’s impact on their lives, but when angered (which is all too frequent), being a witness for Christ is the furthest thing from their minds.
60.
receive the grace of meekness moment by moment
61.
To be meek in troubling circumstances, then, we must not let our circumstances dominate our thinking so that we are overwhelmed by them.
62.
be willing to give anything for a clear, undisturbed conscience, which is best protected by the shield of a meek and quiet spirit that refrains from “returning evil for evil” (1 Peter 3:9), escalating a bad situation, or intimidating others.
63.
God has made the improvement of our temperaments an important objective for our lives. He has determined to smooth our rough edges and make us more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18) because that is what brings us “life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
64.
Others can perceive our attitudes more than we realize, and we would be surprised and embarrassed to find out the sinfulness they see in us. And God sees it all—we cannot, in any way, hide our lack of meekness from Him.
65.
not every little fault or shortcoming needs to be pointed out and criticized; it is better to let some things go. If certain faults do need to be corrected, the reproof can be done in a better way if anger is not added to it.
66.
It is because of a lack of meekness that we cannot tolerate opinions different from our own or others’ plans that do not appeal to us. It is because of a lack of meekness that we insist on our voice being heard (whether we are right or wrong in what we say) and on getting our own way. It is because of a lack of meekness that we are intolerant of anyone competing with us; we cannot bear the thought of anyone sharing in the limelight or honor that we think should be ours. It is because of a lack of meekness that we are unable to tolerate anyone showing us contempt. Moreover, it is because of a lack of meekness that we are quick to think that they are showing us contempt if they say the least little thing that could possibly be interpreted in that way. We
67.
Willfully doing anything that upsets others or puts distance in relationships (slandering, backbiting, gossiping, avoiding, and so on) is evidence that we are not quiet in our spirits. When any form of alienation exists, then, it should serve as a wake-up call that our spirit is not at peace and may lack meekness.
68.
our hearts can, through meekness, be still and quiet. In tumultuous times, meekness makes us truly blessed because we keep possession of our souls even if we cannot keep possession of anything else.
69.
As soon as we realize our mistake, we must go after it and not let anything keep us from that pursuit.
70.
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18), making every effort to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
71.
regardless of the circumstance. We are not only to be meek within our hearts, but we are to show it outwardly by being gracious toward others. We control our facial expression, speech, actions, and anything else people can observe in us, to show that we do indeed have respect for the law of meekness and that it governs what we say and do, even when provoked.
72.
Our goal should be to neither perturb others nor allow them to perturb us. To achieve this goal, we need to be done with taking offense readily. Paul instructed the Thessalonians, “Aspire to lead a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11); the highest honor we can work toward is to lead a quiet, peaceable life.
73.
Determined efforts to study and learn the mystery of the grace of meekness (like that which serious students demonstrate when they study their field of interest) will help us become adept at composing ourselves. To truly study the art of quietness is to work with ourselves in ways that help us learn and keep a firm hold on the principles and laws of meekness, for they promote the quieting and calming of the spirit as provocations occur.
74.
the extent to which we trust in God is the extent to which we feel no need to domineer over others or to insist on having our own way.
75.
he did manage to calm his own spirit by “strengthen[ing] himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). As a result of turning to God, he received supernatural help and guidance,
76.
In spite of their waywardness, however, Jesus saw that, for the most part, they were sincere in their efforts to follow Him, so He did not turn them away. Instead, He made the best of each situation, fixed their mistakes, and taught them a little at a time, as they could receive it.
77.
we have experienced such love and kindness from Christ when we were disobedient and foolish that we have no business refusing to show the same to others (Titus 3:3-7).
78.
Not only do we have more true influence with other individuals when we are meek, but public opinion is also changed most effectively and with the least amount of arguing when it is done in a spirit of meekness—when emotions are not allowed to gain the upper hand.
79.
matters of disagreement, it is wise to wait and see if God reveals to us that we need to adjust our thinking (Philippians 3:15).
80.
Humility helps us to realize that we could be mistaken and to therefore not resent being contradicted. When someone voices an opinion that opposes ours, we will do well to take it as a kindness because that person is trying to teach us something we may have not yet come to understand.
81.
The extent to which we master our own negative emotions determines the degree of peace we will have.
82.
The worst enemies we will ever have are those in our own heart.
83.
Being still within one’s soul means maintaining a quietness and composure of mind, based on the Lord’s promise of help and rest to those who wholeheartedly put their trust in Him.
...
2.
is through the practice of godly meekness that one has lasting inner peace.
3.
Matthew Henry, A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit [1698], renamed The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit [Grand Rapids 3, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
4.
OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARD OTHERS REVEALS what we are within. Our words spill out the contents of the heart for all to see (Matthew 12:34) and our actions betray any lack of authenticity in them.
5.
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” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
6.
Our worship is to come from the core of our being, operating on the principle of God’s grace. This teaching directs our inner devotional life and worship of God. But we are also called to live our outward lives in the same truth and purity of heart, based on the same principle of grace.
7.
In our relationships, then, there is no room for pretense or hypocrisy; our love for others is to be genuine.
8.
“Take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” ~ Malachi 2:16 We deal with our inner self to make our outward actions what they should be.
9.
If the quality of meekness and quietness is so important to God that Jesus commanded it; if the Bible tells us that it is precious in God’s sight; and if our highest honor, whether we live or die, is to be “well pleasing” (2 Corinthians 5:9) to the Lord, then we have every reason to seek this quality that God has so highly commended to us.
10.
Quietness of spirit is a manifestation of meekness—to have peace within, we must first practice meekness by humbling ourselves before God and putting others ahead of us.
11.
The quality of meekness may be loosely defined as easiness of spirit.
12.
there will be no fear of being hurt, because there will be nothing to cause harm (v. 9). And the same peace can be had within our spirits and among our Christian relationships now when each of us allows meekness to govern our hearts.
13.
Meekness supplies us with a determination not to fight against the One who made us and who knows what is best. It causes us to make a firm and permanent commitment never to tell Him how things should be—because He knows better than we do. Meekness, then, brings to the situation a silent and heartfelt consent to our great God and Master.
14.
“But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” ~ Job 23:10 Job was not bragging about his own virtue. No, he was showing meekness. He knew enough of God’s ways to understand that he was being tested. And he knew that God’s grace would enable him to pass the test with untainted and glorious success.
15.
Part of His work is to teach us how to keep our emotions in submission to our walk with God and to rational thinking that reflects His mindset.
16.
The Bible states what God desires for and expects of us: “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way” (Proverbs 14:8). Wise individuals stop and think ahead about where the path they are choosing will lead them, and they exercise good sense before proceeding.
17.
When anger makes us want to deal immediately with a situation, the law of meekness counsels us to think things over first, find out both sides of the story, and develop a sound viewpoint concerning the matter.
18.
When we are greatly offended, it is wise to explain the matter to some individuals we respect and give them a chance to consider the situation and give advice before we take action.
19.
As long as we do not go to them, supposedly seeking advice but with the real motive of spreading dissension, the practice of delaying action by seeking counsel is a demonstration of meekness that is pleasing to God.
20.
he chose to willingly consider what they had to say because he knew that just as God had made him, so He had made them—they had just as much right to be heard and respected as he had (Job 31:13-15). We will do well to keep this concept in mind when others approach us about issues, especially when we do not like what they are saying.
21.
it is good to ask ourselves the same question God asked Cain when he was upset: “Why are you angry?” (Genesis 4:6). Furthermore, we should ask, Why am I so quickly angered? What is the reason for the anger? Is it really worth it to be so angry? Or, is my anger unjustified (as Jonah’s was when he became outraged that a shade-producing vine had died overnight—Jonah 4:7-9)? Must I be angry to the core of my being because of such a temporary and fleeting provocation? Can’t I quiet myself and let calmer thoughts take over, to correct this hasty anger?
22.
There are situations that call for us to express our disapproval of another’s action, but this must be done without becoming greatly disturbed about it and destroying our own peace. There is no need for us to tear ourselves apart in our anger.
23.
In confronting others, emotions may become heated. But if we are meek, our meekness will fortify the stronghold of our heart against their provocations and hurtful responses so they do us no great harm. No one has the power to take away our peace unless we allow it to happen.
24.
Meekness is an aspect of the faith that helps us to keep possession of our souls. It enables us to exercise self-control and maintain our sense of peace, and by so doing, it prevents us from losing the inheritance of soul-rest that was promised to God’s children (Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:3, 11). Even when everything seems to be out of kilter, God’s promised peace and rest that come through the grace of meekness keep us from being overcome by our circumstances.
25.
unbelief is nothing less than arrogance toward God.
26.
if we wish to exercise faith in God and honor Him with our lives, we must be consistent in our practice of meekness.
27.
even if our assessment of a given person or situation is accurate, thoughts expressed in the heat of the moment usually give more reason than anything else for repentance later on.
28.
meekness causes us to examine ourselves to be sure that no bitterness is taking hold in our hearts, bitterness that would not only corrupt us but would leak out in our conversations with others and corrupt them as well.
29.
Our relationships will be much more enjoyable when we develop this art of obliging others,
30.
we must never deliberately expose anyone’s weaknesses in any way, for such action only reveals our own sinfulness.
31.
Damage is done by the words we say, but seldom are we worse off for remaining silent.
32.
If we are meek, however, we will make ourselves like a beach’s soft sand that receives the waves without making a big commotion and sends them back to the sea without damage.
33.
In situations where we are truly at fault and others have good reason to be angry with us (though we may not be as much at fault as they are claiming), it is important to be apologetic, humble, submissive, and ready and willing to admit our shortcomings and to change our ways. We must not try to vindicate ourselves, for doing so will only magnify our error rather than excuse it; we will bring on ourselves more condemnation, not justification, for what we have said or done that made the others angry in the first place.
34.
God’s peace is present in the “quiet resting places” (Isaiah 32:18)
35.
The path on which Jesus calls us to set our feet is the same one that the book of Proverbs recommends to us, for both put the same sweet and gracious yoke on us. Set forth as the way of wisdom, Proverbs describes it as a most desirable path: Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. ~ Proverbs 3:17
36.
Wisdom has such power and effectiveness that it does not need to use force to get its message across; the good sense that wisdom promotes wins the day quietly.
37.
wisdom has the power to bring quietness to our hearts, for it teaches us to utilize the graces God has freely given us, graces that supply peace and order within.
38.
It is when we fear sin more than we fear the possibility of being disgraced that we are truly brave and heroic, for it takes courage to choose to suffer at the hands of others rather than choosing to sin or to allow oneself to be considered a fool rather than engaging in a heated argument.
39.
Weak individuals often feel anxious and show irritation—and they irritate others in the process. But it is far beneath the ability and responsibility of Christians to act that way.
40.
Meek and quiet individuals who, in trust, keep a sense of peace and steadiness in the midst of provocation are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4)
41.
Even among people, while meekness may not bring us a great name (fame), it will earn us a good name (the reputation of being a high-quality person).
42.
Those who, through meekness, are easy for others to be around find it easy to live with themselves.
43.
This approach calls for maturity. Christ is meek and does not react to every offense done against Him. He offers grace and second chances again and again. That is what it is to be longsuffering—and that is what we are called to. This approach nails to the cross our sinful, self-centered nature that cannot tolerate any offense, and it invites Christ to have His way in us (Galatians 2:20). It
44.
Many of those who do not have this inner contentment worry so much that they cannot relax at any time, day or night, and restful sleep is seemingly impossible.
45.
We have more comfort, satisfaction, and peace when we forgive many offenses than when we avenge one.
46.
angry people are not capable of being sociable since they take offense at every little thing. The person who is opposed to everyone is also opposed by everyone (as the Angel of the LORD predicted that Ishmael would be—Genesis 16:12), generating constant turmoil. But meekness holds society together and gives Christians unity.
47.
Because of the imperfections of everyone (even godly Christians), no friendship or good working relationship can be maintained without making allowances for one another. Meekness takes the weaknesses of others into consideration, and by so doing, prevents disagreements and feelings of estrangement.
48.
We must not allow loud emotions to gain control of our soul; they drown out the sound of His voice and destroy our peace in the process.
49.
Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. ~ Psalm 116:7
50.
When approached about an issue, meekness simply means being humbly open to anything God wants to teach us and refusing to get ruffled.
51.
When we are meek, we are easygoing concerning the provocations that come from others; other than looking to see if God has something to teach us through them, we are not very much affected by them in the first place.
52.
The Bible teaches that the wise ward off anger (Proverbs 29:8), but the words of the foolish escalate conflict and deserve punishment (18:6). It is to our credit when we avoid or stop friction that others have started (20:3), but we only expose our own foolishness when we keep the conflict going by relentlessly continuing on with issues that should be dropped.
53.
If we choose meekness, however, then even if it seems that we are being walked over, everyone is kept safe, for the matter is resolved or is at least ended without escalating into a bigger problem that could cause great harm to all.
54.
the meek commonly fare much better than do others. They move through their lives (even through troubling times) quietly safe and secure, while the disorderly and rebellious find themselves hopelessly ensnared by disturbing circumstances.
55.
When we reject malicious thoughts and refuse to envy others, speak evil of them, or consider ourselves better than they are, when we put aside all negativity toward people and become like babies in the sense of being innocent and blameless in our dealings with them, then we are in the best possible position to receive “the pure milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby”
56.
quietness opens the way for God to reach our hearts.
57.
without meekness, we fail to have the holy hands He requires.
58.
it is only the quiet and meek who find rest in Christ every day. To have this perpetual sense of rest, we must replace the “leaven of malice and wickedness … with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8) and figuratively partake of the Lord’s Supper throughout our lifetimes by quietly abiding in Him (feeding on Him as our source of life) each day.
59.
The meek and quiet heart enjoys emotional stability, which in turn provides an additional benefit: it keeps the person in a state of readiness to discuss spiritual matters with others. In contrast, hot-tempered Christians are inconsistent in their profession of faith, like one who is burning up with fever one moment, only to be overcome by chills the next. When calm, they may talk about Christ’s impact on their lives, but when angered (which is all too frequent), being a witness for Christ is the furthest thing from their minds.
60.
receive the grace of meekness moment by moment
61.
To be meek in troubling circumstances, then, we must not let our circumstances dominate our thinking so that we are overwhelmed by them.
62.
be willing to give anything for a clear, undisturbed conscience, which is best protected by the shield of a meek and quiet spirit that refrains from “returning evil for evil” (1 Peter 3:9), escalating a bad situation, or intimidating others.
63.
God has made the improvement of our temperaments an important objective for our lives. He has determined to smooth our rough edges and make us more like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18) because that is what brings us “life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
64.
Others can perceive our attitudes more than we realize, and we would be surprised and embarrassed to find out the sinfulness they see in us. And God sees it all—we cannot, in any way, hide our lack of meekness from Him.
65.
not every little fault or shortcoming needs to be pointed out and criticized; it is better to let some things go. If certain faults do need to be corrected, the reproof can be done in a better way if anger is not added to it.
66.
It is because of a lack of meekness that we cannot tolerate opinions different from our own or others’ plans that do not appeal to us. It is because of a lack of meekness that we insist on our voice being heard (whether we are right or wrong in what we say) and on getting our own way. It is because of a lack of meekness that we are intolerant of anyone competing with us; we cannot bear the thought of anyone sharing in the limelight or honor that we think should be ours. It is because of a lack of meekness that we are unable to tolerate anyone showing us contempt. Moreover, it is because of a lack of meekness that we are quick to think that they are showing us contempt if they say the least little thing that could possibly be interpreted in that way. We
67.
Willfully doing anything that upsets others or puts distance in relationships (slandering, backbiting, gossiping, avoiding, and so on) is evidence that we are not quiet in our spirits. When any form of alienation exists, then, it should serve as a wake-up call that our spirit is not at peace and may lack meekness.
68.
our hearts can, through meekness, be still and quiet. In tumultuous times, meekness makes us truly blessed because we keep possession of our souls even if we cannot keep possession of anything else.
69.
As soon as we realize our mistake, we must go after it and not let anything keep us from that pursuit.
70.
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18), making every effort to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).
71.
regardless of the circumstance. We are not only to be meek within our hearts, but we are to show it outwardly by being gracious toward others. We control our facial expression, speech, actions, and anything else people can observe in us, to show that we do indeed have respect for the law of meekness and that it governs what we say and do, even when provoked.
72.
Our goal should be to neither perturb others nor allow them to perturb us. To achieve this goal, we need to be done with taking offense readily. Paul instructed the Thessalonians, “Aspire to lead a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11); the highest honor we can work toward is to lead a quiet, peaceable life.
73.
Determined efforts to study and learn the mystery of the grace of meekness (like that which serious students demonstrate when they study their field of interest) will help us become adept at composing ourselves. To truly study the art of quietness is to work with ourselves in ways that help us learn and keep a firm hold on the principles and laws of meekness, for they promote the quieting and calming of the spirit as provocations occur.
74.
the extent to which we trust in God is the extent to which we feel no need to domineer over others or to insist on having our own way.
75.
he did manage to calm his own spirit by “strengthen[ing] himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). As a result of turning to God, he received supernatural help and guidance,
76.
In spite of their waywardness, however, Jesus saw that, for the most part, they were sincere in their efforts to follow Him, so He did not turn them away. Instead, He made the best of each situation, fixed their mistakes, and taught them a little at a time, as they could receive it.
77.
we have experienced such love and kindness from Christ when we were disobedient and foolish that we have no business refusing to show the same to others (Titus 3:3-7).
78.
Not only do we have more true influence with other individuals when we are meek, but public opinion is also changed most effectively and with the least amount of arguing when it is done in a spirit of meekness—when emotions are not allowed to gain the upper hand.
79.
matters of disagreement, it is wise to wait and see if God reveals to us that we need to adjust our thinking (Philippians 3:15).
80.
Humility helps us to realize that we could be mistaken and to therefore not resent being contradicted. When someone voices an opinion that opposes ours, we will do well to take it as a kindness because that person is trying to teach us something we may have not yet come to understand.
81.
The extent to which we master our own negative emotions determines the degree of peace we will have.
82.
The worst enemies we will ever have are those in our own heart.
83.
Being still within one’s soul means maintaining a quietness and composure of mind, based on the Lord’s promise of help and rest to those who wholeheartedly put their trust in Him.
...
September 16, 2015
Awesome. Life changing.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews