1 Peter 3 instructs godly woman to adorn themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit. The source of her beauty comes from her inner-self. When I first read this, I thought I would have to chop off half of my personality in order for my life to be characterized by gentle quietness. However, it is not so much about the volume or quantity of words as it is having a settled and steadfast disposition. When I am confident in Christ, trusting in His sufficiency, I don't clamor to prove my worth. I don't cry out in anxiety. I don't throw a fit to get my way. I don't have to use noise to attract attention. My desire is to point attention away from myself and toward a God who is perfectly beautiful. A woman whose mind and heart are set on Christ, who like the holy women of the past, puts her hope in God, this woman's beauty will speak though a gentle and quiet spirit.
Give Me a Quiet Mind
When winds are blowing, waves are rising, falling
And all the air is full of dust and spray,
When voices like to sea birds' plaintive calling,
Confuse my day,
Then, then I know Thee, Lord of highest heaven.
In newborn need discover Thee, and find
Nought can discomfort him to whom is given
A quiet mind.
When hopes have failed, and heavy sadness crusheth,
And doubt and fear would weave their deadly spell,
Then thought of Thee my troubled spirit husheth,
And all is well.
In midnight hour when weariness ignoreth
Heaven's starry house, and battle wounds are mine,
Then Thy right hand uplifteth and outpoureth
Love's oil and wine.
O blessed Lord, beyond the moment's sorrow
I see above, beneath, before, behind -
Eternal love. Give me today, tomorrow,
A quiet mind.
(From the collected poems of Amy Carmichael)
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