March 20

A QUIET SPIRIT
by Ray Prinzing

"The hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."                                                 (1 Peter 3:4).

The admonition of Proverbs 4:23 is well taken, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." One might be very careful as to what they allow their eyes to see, and their ears to hear.  They might watch and guard against anything preying upon their minds, but if they are ensnared with the inner spirit forces, so that they begin to act and react in alignment with the spirit of the world, sorrow lieth at the door.

We need to TAKE HEED TO OUR SPIRIT, guard against that which would defile us within, unsettles us, disturb our peace, and cause us to become riled up with the agitating spirit of the world.  So unawares, in the hour when we think not, we find our "inner spirit" becoming pressured and tested, but God can help us maintain a quiet spirit.

The need to come into the maturity of a meek and quiet spirit becomes more evident with the increasing pressure of our times.  To "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7). or literally from the Hebrew text this reads,  "Be silent to the Lord."  You say, what does that mean?  Consider: how often do we trouble our own spirit with our constant babble of sound unto the Lord.  Why, Lord?  When, Lord? How, Lord? Speak, Lord! Do something, Lord! Hear me, O Lord! When all the time what we really need is to quiet ourselves before Him, and remember that  "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."  (Isaiah 30:15).

Often times our mind screams out, "But God ought to act in this emergency now." But His Spirit whispers deep within, Keep calm, just rest in the Lord."  Yes, don't allow your flesh to rise up in rebellion to what seems like inactivity on God's part, but maintain your quietness of spirit, in confidence that He will not fail, at the proper time He will work "all things together into god." "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord,"  (Laminations 3:26).