Text: Matthew 5:5, Luke 12:13-21, Psalm 37:1-11
These days my daughters have been struck with a heavy dose of the equine magic, something unknowingly passed down from their mama, I suppose. As a child, I whiled away many an afternoon hour at the dining room table, painstakingly working to capture the essence of a mare and her young colt. Occasionally, they’d take flight as a pegasus or grow into a purple-horned unicorn. But more often than not, I fashioned my horses a traditional brown or black—always majestic, racing through a large Crayola®-green pasture, wild, free, and unbridled.
Fueling my wonder was a racehorse farm, just down the road from my childhood home. On slow summer mornings, my mother would walk with me, hand-in-hand, to admire the horses. Together, we’d watch them from the outside of endless white fences, their tails flick-flick-flicking away flies in the heat. On rare occasions, she’d lead me to the stables for a closer look, to stroke their muzzles, my fingers tentatively dancing across a velvety smooth coat. I’d stare deeply into the eyes of those beautiful beasts, in awe of their quiet, controlled demeanor—steely strength enveloped in a gentle disposition.
Though humble in temperament and committed to the service of their master, you’d never doubt the power of these statuesque creatures. You would never think them weak. These animals are bred, born, and groomed for a few minutes of all-out greatness, and yet the day-to-day submission of their own will to that of their master’s is somehow equally awe-inspiring. The master has proven to be good and worthy of their trust. And so they wait on him.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act…
Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him…
-Psalm 37:5,7
This is a picture of meekness: strength and power under control, submitted to the authority of the Father. He created us to bear His image and to bring Him glory (Genesis 1:27; Isaiah 43:7). And while we can honor God in deed and action—in how we run the race—we also glorify Him in our waiting and trusting in Him. We glorify Him in our meekness, too.
Scripture tells us Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth, but he was far from weak (Numbers 12:3). The man who confronted Pharaoh, led the Israelites’ exodus out of Egypt, and parted the Red Sea, was empowered by God Almighty to lead and perform miracles in His name, yet he remained humble in spirit. He was just a foretaste of Jesus Christ, our Savior to come (Matthew 11:29).
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.
-Isaiah 53:7
Jesus had all the authority of heaven and earth given to Him, yet He submitted His will to the Father (Matthew 28:18). The same God who met face to face with Moses endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). He did it for us—we are His joy, His prize. This is the God who fights for us; we need only to be still and wait for Him (Exodus 14:14).
We live in a world that distracts us from our true inheritance. At every turn, we’re told to make our desires happen now and on our own terms. But that’s orphan living, and we are daughters of the King. All that He has is already ours in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). Our inheritance is already secure.
Kara Gause is an editor for She Reads Truth happily residing in Nashville, Tennessee. She’s married to one swell fella and mother to a set of delightfully spirited twin girls. Sunsets and snow cones are near and dear to her heart, as is anything or anyone who reminds her of God’s goodness.
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67 thoughts on "Blessed Are the Meek"
Lord help me to trust and wait patiently for you in the silence.
This evening I went back to read comments and noticed my mistake.
I meant to say: I have “what” I need. My apologies. I voice most of my comments and sometimes I don’t go back to reread.
TINA, I admire your openness to share this wee’s episode with us. I love how the Lord showed you the reasons why your reaction was not the right one. And I love your repentant heart, and, yes, meekness . ❤️
Thank you for that beautiful reminder @TERESA DONLEY
The Be Still or silent really spoke to me today.
It was a reminder that I needed
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. – Psalms 37:3-8
I love this Psalm. It gives me a sense of peace, and trust in God. I don’t think of the word, “meek” very often. Probably only when I’m reading it in the Bible. But following these words in Psalms tells me exactly how it is achieved. Trust, commitment, delight, be still. It doesn’t sound so hard. But the psalmist knew these things are contrary to the way our world behaves. So, the psalmist also included some instructions on how to live meekly in a sinful world.
Fret not, refrain from anger, forsake wrath
Lord, fill me with Your Spirit so that I can lean on you, to trust, commit, delight and be still; and to also stop fretting, refrain from anger and forsake wrath. I know I can do nothing without you, so I thank You for the Holy Spirit living in me, who transforms me on a daily basis. Amen.
I wanted to share the latest on Leo from his CB site. Please keep praying for his recovery. Thank you.
“Leo completed his first week of rehab and is a few days into his second week. We expect he will be there at least 2-3 more weeks. They keep him busy and he is working hard during his therapy sessions. He has settled into a routine for the most part. 3 hours of therapy almost every day and rest in the evening.
Leo is doing better every day. It’s been comforting to watch Leo progress. Especially to see him on his feet and moving around. He is doing really well, we look forward to getting him home in a few weeks.
I will put an update out on this site at least once a week until he is home.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.”
The devotional was so beautifully written. I’m such a visual person and this spoke to me.
And while we can honor God in deed and action—in how we run the race—we also glorify Him in our waiting and trusting in Him. We glorify Him in our meekness, too.
I love Psalm 37. I’m in a weird transition time right now, and everything in me wants to “do” something, but God is telling me to wait on Him. This is my first week without a job as I made the decision to leave my stressful sales career behind. We are blessed to be able to live on one income, but I still find myself checking our budget and balances to reassure myself. Luke 12:14 reminds me that my life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, but my security is in knowing that my God is good and faithful.
What a great feeling and assurance that our inheritance is already secure. According to the eyes of the world and even some believers, I might not be financially successful, but I do have need. And sometimes those unwanted voices telling me I am nothing, ringing so loud that I have to remind myself who I am in Christ and that’s all that matters. Even though I am middle aged, I still pray for wisdom, and how I answer people and try to use the right words when speaking, as sometimes I feel not so wise.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalms 37:4. What a great reminder! Something I leaned on A LOT in my adult years. Praying for you all today! My mom and I are getting ready for a vintage show this weekend where we bring our reclaimed furniture. Praying it all sells so we don’t have to lug it twice haha.
Good Morning!
I love this today…The meek/humble will inherit the earth! That’s some promise! Hadn’t I rather inherit “the earth”…basically all of God’s creation in the long run, the temporary, perishable wealth in the present?! I do! More so, I just want to live my life following WHAT Jesus has for me! It is such a blessing following His will! Can it be hard, yes, But GOD. Leave it to Him. Be anxious for nothing. Today has it’s own troubles, tomorrow is not promised! Choose Jesus today! If you are confused of what that looks like in your life today, open scripture or pray. God is faithful, if you don’t have an answer, you don’t need an answer today. How freeing!
We have started our study on the book “Free of Me!” (My new Fall small group I am leading! Praise God for stepping out in faith!!) I love how it talks of how we grow up and start developing our reflection of ourselves. From others it comes and how we, ourselves, reflect those thoughts! It is a good book! I don’t think growing up I would ever classify myself as meek, but maybe humble in some areas. Although I did seem to boast and get prideful more often then not after achievements! I have really prayed for a more humble and patient spirit over the years. Giving up myself to Jesus, to lead me in His ways. Sanctification, it is a continual process until we go to be with Jesus! Thank you Lord for continuing to work on us, your broken people. Forgive me for my sin, cleanse me daily!
Blessing and prayers to each of you!!
@Adrienne, yours is the first comment I read just as I finished up the devotion. Thank you for praying for us. I needed to hear it this morning.
I came away with 2 things this morning. We are told in Psalm 37:5 TRUST –
SHARON JERSEY GIRL pointed out the action words in the passage. This is just one example that hit home with me. If this means that if I don’t trust, He won’t act you better believe I will start working on trusting more!!! Not saying that is what it means, just that I was convicted!
#2- Don’t fret about what you don’t have, what you think you ‘deserve’ and instead, be filled with joy over your spiritual blessings. So many people spend their lives fretting over how to get more, have more power, etc. I love how the verse in Romans below addresses this!
From Got Questions – again :
Meekness is humility toward God and toward others. It is having the right or the power to do something but refraining for the benefit of someone else. Paul urged meekness when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1–2)….
Striving for power and prestige is not the path to blessedness. Meekness is.
SEARCHING – Appreciate your ‘studious-ness’! ❤
TINA – Good to see you! ❤
ADRIENNE – Thanks and back atcha! ❤
KELLY – Smart move! ❤
Glorifying God in our waiting and trusting is right where I am at now! I love how God gently reminds me that He’s working!
Good morning, sweet sisters. Just wanted you to know that you’re being prayed for.
Much love and many blessings to you!
Another eye opening day of study! Honestly, I have studied these passages before and as I mentioned yesterday, attended a sermon series just on these. But apparently did not take the teaching into my heart and mind, not at all. For whatever reason, a new understanding is sinking in now.
In that sermon series, the message for this beatitude started with the clip of Secretariat running and winning the Belmont like no other horse had run before, which interestingly ties in with the devo analogy. I have 3 pages of notes from studying various sources so will summarize as best I can … some of the ways the world defines meek are timid, naive, deficient in spirit and courage. The Greek word (translated from Hebrew) is praus and was used to describe a horse that had been broken – a green horse broken-in so that it can be used for a purpose rather than just running wild, bringing his power under control (a good analogy for my own wild ways, finally being broken and submitting to God.) Our brokenness can reveal a desire, need and willingness to bring our “power” (God-given skills and talents) into submission (under God’s mission) to God’s word and His will connects with that same willingness and desire to respond to Christ and align our hearts and minds with His mission. One site that I found today sermononthemount dot org dot uk had a lot of background.
The mentions of “fret” – defined as constantly worried/anxious; to wear down by rubbing or gnawing. Reminding myself Do Not Fret.
TINA ❤️ so good to see you. Thank you for sharing that story!
So many good comments and insights, sisters ❤️
CEE GEE – ❤️
Good morning! Hi Tina!
SHARON JERSEY GIRL – I hadn’t noticed all the action words in the Psalm until you pointed them out. Thank you! I also love the “do not fret” lines…it sounds old-fashioned but somehow gets through to me better than “don’t worry”. Running late today but I’ll check back later today!
TINA – glad you found us! I can sooo relate! Earlier this year, my department head called me in his office to let me know he had complaints of my attitude and a disrespectful tone. He did not tell me the source of the complaint. So I literally went to every person in the company had interacted with in the previous month, even the president, and apologized for any offensive behavior. All were appreciative and not one said they had personally been offended. (Sooo frustrating) I requested that should I offend them in the future to please come to me so that I can know exactly what I am doing that caused the offense and adjust my behavior accordingly. I have yet to have anyone come to me (must be because ERB has been praying for me). My conclusion is it was my department head who was the one who was offended and while I did not confront him about it I have gone out of my way to watch my tongue around him.
RHONDA – so glad you have had a little relief and your group was a blessing to you yesterday.
Ooops, the reason, I am here..
Blessed are the meek..
And while we can honour God in deed and action—in how we run the race—we also glorify Him in our waiting and trusting in Him. We glorify Him in our meekness, too.
This got me today!
This week I received a disciplinary! I pulled someone up about leaving a tray of dirty cups in my kitchen, without word to me, and walking away.. Apparently, I was rude, and as a church employee, I should have been a tad more loving, both in my words and actions..
I won’t lie, it was a busy morning, and I guess this was one toooo many times, I was not employed to be other people’s washer upper!
BUT GOD…
Ugh, He graciously helped me to understand why I had to be hauled in front of my line manager.. The lady complaining was a mother to a baby who had not had much sleep, she was therefore a tad sensitive to much. And the kicker, my assistant, unbeknownst to me, had asked her to move the cups into the kitchen as she could not lift them! Yes, indeed, the bigger picture revealed!
I have always thought of meek, as weak! I often think I am ‘abused’ in my job, she is in the kitchen… therefore, etc, but here’s the funny thing, I am in hospitality, because I absolutely love to serve! I do!
My prayer has always been, to be a blessing to others, and bring honour to God.. Always. Full-stop!
I failed that day, and it won’t be my last, I am sure, but, one thing is for certain, that mistake won’t happen again!
Being meek, for God s glory, is for sure, different to bring weak in ones strength of character and of mind!
Thankful for your intervention of a disciplinary, to bring me back to who I am in you Lord God, thank you, thank you Lord God, in Jesus name, AMEN.
Hugs..❤
Hello, my people!I have found you!
To be honest, I vaguely knew where to find you, but the call these last weeks has been a journey of remembering/remembrance.. I clicked on a few of the studies and was transported to that time and the person I was then. I have found some of my responses to studies as far back as 2015!! 8 years ago..
I am not sure I have changed much,…
BUT GOD..
He sees, He knows, He loves me still.. The incentive to keep moving forward knowing I have a champion, and always will! Thank you Lord God, thank you with a grateful and thank-filled heart. ❤
❤
Happy Thursday, you beauties with whom I can sit at the table and be totally blessed by.. Wrapped in love and prayers..❤
Good morning sisters! I wondered why I didn’t see any comments this morning for 2023, so I went back and checked — I accidentally skipped Blessed are those who mourn!…so I am a day early! Tomorrow I will go back for the one I missed.
Thank you to all who have been praying for my knee to heal – I have much less pain today but it is still very stiff — and for my son Jonathan, your prayers mean so much!
Psalm 37:3-5 is one of my favorite passages of scripture that I have gone to many times over the years. There is a lot of action on our part: we are to trust in the Lord, delight in the Lord and commit our way to the Lord. When we do these things, He will make our righteousness shine like the dawn! “As God fulfills these desires of heart, the righteousness of the man or woman of God is revealed, shining forth in light like the noonday sun.” (enduringword.com)
May each of us today, shine in the light of the Son!
I’m so grateful for this. As now we hear and feel this more then EVER. #coronavirus19 #quartinetimes
This is so powerful! What a wonderful reminder that we are not made for this world. That our true inheritance resides in heaven, with our Father God. Thank you Lord for the reminder that our world distracts us constantly— and we must strive to be still. To slow everything down and sit quietly, listening for Your voice and direction. Lord, I trust in You!
Such a powerful reminder to be in the world and not of it. I often can be worrisome and impatient with my life choices but our Father tries to explain that it is not the way he would have me live my life! A good reminder for me as his child.
Wow powerful message!! All these years of my life, I lived with a beggar and orphan mentality! I dont need to fight again now. Because my inheritance is secure , thank you Jesus! We live in an upside down world, where we chase the illusion of wealth and possessions. Thank you God and SRT for your wonderful ministry.
So being meek means that I can have confidence that one greater than me is out there. I think too this is hope that those that have very little. We see often in the Bible that earthly riches amount to pretty much nothing in the end.
From my understanding… Meekness is having heavenly wisdom, self-confidence and selfish ambition and envy are tied together and are earthly wisdom and is demonic (see James 3:13 – 17) … this is a big idea I have been learning recently, the two kinds of wisdom. When I was younger, in my college years, I did all sorts of evil in the name of selfish ambition… all I could do was try to puff myself up and get my degrees. Now looking back, it is clear to see that God’s way is perfect and selfish ambition is the opposite of heavenly wisdom. Like Paul, I count all those accomplishments as loss compared to the joy of knowing Christ!
Balancing between being meek while still confident is always a struggle for me.
Hi Stephanie. I totally get this struggle, though I think meekness in the Biblical sense is not the opposite of confidence. Biblical meekness is rooted in the deep confidence that God is for you and not against you.
Amen !
I am a very inpatient person. God constantly reminds me to be patient and wait on him, for he knows what he has planned for me.
I loved this! I do have a question, though. How does the reading of Luke 12:13-21 tie into this?
This is just my thoughts but… I think Luke 12:13-21 ties in because so much of the world is striving to conquer, striving to success, striving to store up everything we have for ourselves. But God calls us to trust that he will provide and to love other. The rich man already had so much more than he needed, yet when he had too much to store, he didn’t give to those in need, he wanted to store even more. In a way it is another way for us to let go of the earthly things and focus on God because in the end those who trust God will inherit the earth. Does that make sense? Again, it’s what I got out of it. God bless.
♥️it’s not a fight, but a surrender.
This was so good, full of truth. Thank you!
I love this picture of what meekness is. And this refutation of what the world says is important. It’s hard to remember sometimes that gain here equals loss in eternity.
Amen!!
Another gentle reminder that I need to be still and wait on God. Thank you
Thank the Lord for being such a great God who fights for us; may we be still and wait – trusting He knows what we need. I love the analogy of the strength of the horses; yet they submit to their master. Unsubmitted, that power could be dangerous and cause so much trouble. May we truly understand the power we have in Him and allow the Spirit to guide and direct us for His glory. Our Master is definitely worthy of our trust.
Notice that we *inherit* the earth. This is in direct comparison to the world’s idea of demanding and going after what you want. I think of the scene in Pilgrims Progress between Passion and Patience. Passion demanded his inheritance now. And he was given it. Oh how he gloated over Patience. But Patience waited, longing and suffering loss gladly for the inheritance that was coming. All to soon Passion grew tired of his inheritance. He wanted more and even what he had was crumbling. When the Father came back, Passion had even that little taken away from Him. He had put his trust in the temporary and not waited for the eternal. He thought he gained in this world, but He actually lost everything. Patience lost in this life and yet he gained everything and more. So many lessons to learn!
Kara, thank you for this. I have never prayed for the virtue of meekness. I’ve always perceived it as the mousy woman standing in the corner afraid to look anyone in the eye. Not sure why I thought that but… This… Today. “Strength and power under control, submitted to the authority of the Father.” Well that right there sure is the way to defeat agitation. Oh there’s been a while lot of agitation here in the US this past election cycle and continuing. Not only external agitation but the internal agitation of “Lord, what is going on? What are You doing? What am I to do?” Deep breath. All my attempts to force my agenda to get my desired results, politically and personally, are “orphan living.” Thank you for convicting me! I am a daughter of the King (all this agitation can make one forget). “All that He has is already ours in Christ.” All that He has is far superior so why am I fussing? My inheritance is already secure. No need to feel agitated. No need to strive. No need for anxiousness. Let me be still today and know that You are God and I am your beloved daughter. Help me submit to Your loving authority over all of my life. Today I pray for meekness. Amen.
This is beautifully said! Thank you!
This is hitting me right in the heart. I need to focus on being meek, I often lack this quality and become so focused on this earth.
“The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God’s estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto.” A. W. Tozer
“in himself, nothing; in God, everything.”
amen!
thank you for sharing!
Yes thank you Christine!
Oh I agree, thank you, in myself I am nothing, BUT in God, I can be everything He calls me to be…
Thank you for sharing this. I love it! The dichotomy of strength in weakness. Christ IN us! Amen
Love this!
Love this quote! Thanks for sharing.
“we also glorify Him in our waiting and trusting in Him. “<—- THIS! This hit home. I glorify him in my waiting. I have never thought of my waiting this way. I need to think on this some more because it's a powerful word!
http://www.in-due-time.com
Learning to give over all control to God. Please pray for me as I have been out of school these past two and a half weeks with a fever and now a little pneumonia. Please pray that I can get caught up in the large amount of work that I missed and to do it with a confident and hopeful attitude, trusting that God will help me get through this.
Praying for you.
Praying for you Sarah.
I’m sorry to hear that, I hope you get better soon.
Adding my prayers also. For healing, energy and peace.
Praying now…
Praying Sarah. My daughter Holly just started college this fall and pneumonia with Sepsis in the hospital. She was very sick in the ICU abut God heard our prayers and she is back in school and caught up with her work. Please make sure you keep a close watch and I pray you heal quickly and that the professors will work with you.
Praying…
This world places great value on power and wealth. Not so, God. It’s comforting and convicting to be reminded we are to lay up riches in heaven, and this place is not our home.
I have been wealthy and now I am not. It’s more fun having wealth, but it kept me from deep relationship with my savior. I simply did not need to trust him for everything. What I have learned is that my bank account, the size of my home (or lack thereof), the make and model of my car (or not having one at all), the tag on my clothing, the food I eat…none of these things can impart true worth to our lives. Only Jesus can do that.
Amen Bee 3! So true!!
Thank you for this reminder. So often meekness is misinterpreted as weakness in our society. Thankful for God’s Word to bring me back to what is true.
That is so true! I think often we misinterpret meekness for weakness. We miss the opportunity to be still and trust God because we want to come across as strong or knowledgeable or correct. ‘Be still and know’ something I need to remind myself of more often.
Great illustration using such a beautiful and strong and powerful creature made by God! And this passage brings such piercing clarity to being a Christ follower in the world. “We live in a world that distracts us from our true inheritance. At every turn, we’re told to make our desires happen now and on our own terms. But that’s orphan living, and we are daughters of the King. All that He has is already ours in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:3). Our inheritance is already secure.” Thank you!
My inheritance is already secure. Bless the Lord!
I love the comparison to the horses! My dad owns a couple of horses and I love the just watch them as well. They’re such giant creatures but the most humble and simple creatures. If only we could strive to better follow their meekness with our Lord.
“But that’s orphan living. We are daughter of the King!” Incredible!! So thankful to have a Father that forgives me for my impatience and doubt. “Be still and know that I am God.” Is tattooed on my forearm and it the most beautiful daily reminder to trust and let go…..and yet daily I forget to do just that. Good thing I am no orphan and my Father is the creator of the universe! Thanks for this devotion.