“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).

Meekness is one of the most important fruits of the Spirit; it is also a rare trait of character. Does meekness mean to be shy or timid? The dictionary defines the word “meek” as showing patience, humility, gentleness, and also being submissive. So we could say that meekness includes some of the other fruits of the Spirit! In Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pages 13 and 14, we read: “Throughout the Beatitudes there is an advancing line of Christian experience. Those who have felt their need of Christ, those who have mourned because of sin and have sat with Christ in the school of affliction, will learn meekness from the divine Teacher. . . . Jesus places meekness among the first qualifications for His kingdom. In His own life and character the divine beauty of this precious grace is revealed.”

Matthew 11:29 says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

“Meekness is the inward adorning, which God estimates as of great price. The apostle speaks of this as more excellent and valuable than gold or pearls or costly array. While the outward adorning beautifies only the mortal body, the ornament of meekness adorns the soul and connects finite man with the infinite God. This is the ornament of God’s own choice. He who garnished the heavens with the orbs of light has by the same Spirit promised that ‘he will beautify the meek with salvation’ (Psalm 149:4). Angels of heaven will register as best adorned those who put on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him in meekness and lowliness of mind.”—The Sanctified Life, p. 16.

Indeed, meekness is not an easy trait of character to develop. We all have carnal hearts; but through Christ we can win the victory over pride of self.

Let not our character adorning be “that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3, 4).

May the Lord help us as we continue to cultivate a meek and quiet spirit!