Meek Is Not Weak
I remember hearing about a well-known preacher that was walking with his son. A man approached them and started talking to the preacher. At one point the man asked the preacher his opinion of another man that had been at great odds with him. The preacher said something along the lines of “I think that he is a good man.” Not long after that the man went on his way. Once the father and son were alone again, the son looked up at his dad and said “I thought that man hated you and couldn’t stand you. Why were you so complimentary toward him when you were asked what you thought of him?” To which the preacher said, “Because son, I wasn’t asked what his opinion was of me, but what my opinion was of him.”
What a great example of meekness! Many people think that meekness is weakness, but it couldn’t be further from what the word means. Meekness is controlled strength. A horse hasn’t lost its strength when it gets harnessed, it has gained usefulness, and not lost one ounce of strength. When we choose to direct our power to be constructive rather than destructive, that does not display weakness but meekness – controlled strength. Did not Solomon say in Proverbs 16:32 “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”?
Assume a Power Pose
Psychologist and Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy tells ABC's Katie Curic that her research indicates certain "power poses" can infuse us psychologically, emotionally, and even physically with greater confidence and energy.
The poses require making ourselves big and looming, standing tall with arms and legs extended, or legs spread with hands on hips and chest expanded (think Superman or Wonder Woman!). Such physical postures actually seem to stimulate testosterone (our strength and confidence hormone) while decreasing our cortisol levels (a common stress hormone).
As YahooNews! reports, "Cuddy believes that by simply striking a power pose, you can infuse yourself with the confidence and self assurance you need to achieve your goals. She suggests trying these poses before job interviews, speeches or important meetings."
For the Christian, there is a power pose even more effective than standing tall with a puffed chest. That pose would be on bended knee (think Tim Tebow!). The posture of prayerful meekness is the most powerful posture we can ever assume. Meekness means placing all our earthly and spiritual power under God's control. Making ourselves small (i.e., humble) before God, praying for HIS strength and HIS will, will infuse us with all the power we need to face our world with confidence and assurance.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (1 Peter 5:6).
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
Cower Power
"According to Bill Farmer's newspaper column, J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group of submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for "Dependent Organization of Really Meek And Timid Souls -- if there are no objections." Their motto was: "The meek shall inherit the earth -- if that's okay with everybody." Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.
tile situation."Meekness would be weakness if it meant yielding to sin. But meekness is yielding to God. This is the opposite of weakness.
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).