Happy are the Meek

No one would ever accuse me of being meek. Assertive, probably. Aggressive, sometimes. Pushy, often. I am an initiator, someone who makes things happen. In the business world you hear the saying "Some people watch things happen, some people make things happen and some people wonder what happened." I never wanted to be the weak person, the person who waited around, a sorry victim.

But Jesus' words go against what the business world says. Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)

The Amplified version says it ever louder:

Blessed [happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions] are the meek [the mild, patient, long-suffering], for they shall inherit the earth!

This is the Beatitude I could not swallow. I could not be quiet. I had to speak up. How would anyone know if I did not tell them? It is even hard to explain it. Even now, when I hear troubling news, I want to do something, say something, take some action. Wouldn't the worst happen is I did nothing?? If I said nothing???

And then today, I found these verses hidden like a pearl in the psalms:

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. -- Psalm 37

Suddenly, I saw the meek differently. They were people who had faith to wait on the Lord and to trust in Him, that He would bring justice, peace and prosperity. Being meek is not the lack of action, it is instead the activeness of faith. They are trusting in the Lord, and their hope is not in their words, their actions, but in Him and what He will bring to pass in due time. Instead of me pushing, prodding, nagging, scolding, warning, and then wondering why nothing is happening, it is trusting God to speak, to open doors in due time, to bring things to pass by His Spirit in marvelous and miraculous ways.

Father, You alone open doors and shut them. You alone hold eternity in Your hand. Justice and promotion and prosperity is Yours to shower upon us. Not because we are smart or quick or lovely, or even pushy. But because You love us. And because we are Yours.

Help me wait on You with hope. Enable me to be meek and bless me with Your peace.

Closed doors, open doors

It has been my prayer, "Lord shut the doors you don't want me to enter, and open wide the ones You do."

It used to be my frustrated wail that people shut doors for me, not allowing me in. But then, I began to see the Lord's protective hand on the shut doors and began to praise Him instead. Lately, as I have begun to seek other places in ministry, the doors continue to shut. I have walked away this time, thinking it too was the Lord protecting me.

Tonight as I look at the scriptures, they are full of open doors ~ doors open for ministry and salvation. God is not closing doors for His children, He opens them. Recently as I prayed I saw God kicking wide open a door for me. "You will not miss it," He seemed to say. In the scriptures, I see doors open as we knock and seek God in prayer.

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:10

Maybe I gave up too soon? Maybe if I labor in prayer the door will yet open for me.

Father, I know You alone open and close doors. And I am grateful for how You have guided me through the ones You have closed as well as the ones you have opened. Father, I want to serve you. Please open wide the door for ministry for me. Please let me back in!!

Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84:10-11