|
|
|
May 9, 2011 A Quiet Gentle Spirit Wins! Part 1I was asked to speak for a women’s luncheon and was not sure what the topic was or what the scripture reference they wanted me to speak from would be. If you have ever been to a women’s luncheon you know that everyone that comes to the luncheon does not come for the same reason. Many come for the fun and fellowship. Many come to eat and some come to hear the speaker. You never know what anyone’s reason for coming is, but as the speaker you are responsible for preparing as though everyone was coming to hear what you had to say. When I received the topic and the scripture I was surprised but at the same time I was not because I knew that God had been preparing and equipping me for this. I did not know when and I did not know where I was going to have to do it, but I knew it was coming. The scripture was 1 Peter 3:3-4 and it deals with a woman not being concerned about her outer adornment, but being more concerned about having a gentle quiet spirit. Anybody that knows me knows I had been in the lab on this one for a while, but God can do a work on anybody and He has done a great work on me and I am grateful. 1 Peter 3:3-4 3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. Personal Testimony- I am not telling you something I don’t know. I was the woman that walked around as a prayer warrior ready to fight at any opportunity, not realizing that I was projecting a warfare spirit to everyone I came in contact with and making myself unloving and unapproachable and like many of you I thought it was their problem because I was walking in my calling, I was doing what God called me to do, but the question is not the calling, but how we carry it out. My attitude was wrong.
The answer to every question is yes, when we do it with a gentle, quiet spirit. My neck does not have to move, I do not have to put my hand on my hip or raise my voice to get my point across and once I have said what I need to say not 10 times, but once I can leave it alone and resort to seeking the Lord in prayer. We as women sometimes think the power is in our volume or the number of times we say it, but it isn’t. I don’t have to be angry about it and I don’t have to grumble, complain or harp on it. I joined a church 3 years ago and I was told that the leadership, which was predominately male, did not believe in women in ministry. While several of my friends were concerned, God was speaking a word to me and that was, “A gentleman will open the door for a lady.” I had been a mother and warrior but He was trying to soften me up, to make me a lady. As I have watched the transition, I have seen what He spoke to my spirit to be true. As ladies, we don’t need to kick down any doors, because ladies don’t do that. A gentleman really will open the door for you, whether that be a husband, pastor, boss or business partner. Just be a lady, operate with a gentle, quiet spirit and watch God work on your behalf. I have had the opportunity to be:
My personal transition from who I was to who I am, the lady I am today did not just take place in the church. God can use what ever He chooses to use to work on you so look for Him in everything. God worked on me at church, at my job and in my relationships.
Is any of this easy, not on our own, but the bible in Philippians 4:13 says, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. He will give you the strength and grace to follow the leadership He has placed in your life in a respectful way even when you don’t agree and teach you how to pray. When we get to the place of a gentle, quiet spirit that is a place of peace like you have never experienced before. Personally, I have been in the lab on the gentle, quiet spirit for a few years. It took me longer than it should have because I thought I knew better, I thought I had the right answer and I thought I needed to fight for my rights. I wanted to be married and thought I was ready. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I was wrong and as women we have been wrong. God was already taking care of me and He is already taking care of you. I needed to submit at my job, in ministry, relationally, physically and spiritually. With submission comes the blessing of peace and a gentle, quiet spirit. A gentle, quiet spirit does not mean doormat. It means power under control, under submission to the Holy Spirit and I like it. The question we all have to ask ourselves is where are we. How do people describe you? Do we draw people to our beautician or to our Lord? Are we drawing or pushing people away? How do people describe you? As a woman if the word is mean, closed minded, argumentative or loud, it does not draw. Evaluate where you are and make the necessary changes to become a woman with a gentle quiet spirit because it will make gentleman want to do things for you. Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 3:1-4 Wives 1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
Copyright 2005-2007 New Beginnings Holistic Fitness Ministries. All rights reserved |