December Daily: An Ornament for God

At Christmas, we seek out the perfect ornaments to put on our tree. I enjoy looking for ornaments that remind me of a special event, person, or place. I actually have an ornament that is a replica of a Cracker Barrel restaurant; can you tell what is important to me?!

Some ornaments are handmade, while others are bought from a store. Some are cheap, like those from the Dollar Store; others are very expensive, like this one produced by a partner of Hallmark Jewellers in Titchfield, England, worth over $130,000. We're more likely to decorate from the Dollar Store! :)

There's one ornament, though, that is the most precious to God, and that is the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.

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. I Peter 3:4

This meek and quiet spirit is not weak and mousy! On the contrary, it takes a woman with great confidence to have meekness and quietness in the midst of life's ups and downs. Her confidence is not in herself, though - it's in the Lord. And that's how we begin to have a meek and quiet spirit. Just how do we obtain this ornament that is so special to the Lord?

• Ask for it! God is very clear in His Word about His generosity . . . 

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

• Put it on! Don't be a put-on; rather, put on meekness, like you put on your clothes in the morning. This involves choice. Meekness is a choice!

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Colossians 3:12

• Follow after it! Having a meek and quiet spirit is work. You have to practice it, over and over again. And most of us get plenty of opportunities to practice!

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. I Timothy 6:11

• Bring every thought captive! Satan's battle is fought in our minds - especially in our minds, ladies. Our emotions and thoughts can completely control us if we allow them to, so we must capture every thought and bring them into obedience to Christ.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; II Corinthians 10:3-5

• Choose your friends carefully! How often do we tell our children to be careful who their friends are, yet we make our closest friends those who are negative, complaining, gossiping, none of which contribute to a spirit of meekness or quietness. We have to be just as careful of our friends as we teach our children to be.

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. I Corinthians 15:33

• Listen to Christ-honoring music! Music speaks to our souls. The kind of music we listen to determines what it's saying to our souls. We need music that uplifts Christ and that soothes and calms our souls.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

• Study it! Again, having a meek and quiet spirit is work. We must think on it, read about it, pray about it, practice it in order to obtain it.

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; I Thessalonians 4:11

 I hope that as you enjoy the ornaments on your tree this Christmas, you'll take the a moment or two to ask the Lord to make you His precious ornament. I'm sure He would enjoy sitting down and looking at His church decorated with His beautiful ornaments, just like we enjoy looking at ours!