The Lord has been speaking to me about meekness, and it is NOT what you might think. I used to think meekness meant being passive or being a doormat, and if you had the same impression, buckle up because you're in for a surprise, just like I was.
So, in Matthew 5:5 remember when Jesus said that the meek shall inherit the earth? Well, the Greek word for meek in this verse is PRAUS, which means strength under control, like a warhorse. Meekness is not weakness but refers to exercising God's strength under control or power without undue harshness.
In history, back in the Greco-Roman period, meekness was not typically considered a virtue. The culture valued dominance and assertiveness.
But one thing they did understand was PRAUS. To prepare for battles, the Grecian army would send soldiers to go into the mountains to find the wildest and strongest horses they could find and bring them back to be broken in or meeked. After months of training, they would be divided into categories. The first group of horses, which were untrainable and refused to submit, was discarded. The next were deemed useful for burden bearing and ordinary daily duties, but the elite, the ones that had been meeked, were regarded as warhorses.
They were described as praus embodying strength under pressure and power under control. They were fierce, passionate, strong, and determined as they brought their nature under the discipline of their trainer. They were no longer wild, unruly, or rebellious. These warhorses learned how to have self-control while under the authority of their trainer. They were completely submitted because of their undeniable trust in their rider. These horses were the best of the best and revered for their bravery because they would obey their trainer even if it meant running full force into battle with arrows flying towards them. They were known for jumping off cliffs into deep waters and barreling through wildfires as long as their trainer was holding the reins. These warhorses were meek. You see, these horses had developed a relationship with the trainer from their time spent with him and trusted him to lead them wherever he so chose.
So, the next time you hear the Lord telling you to hold your tongue, to behave with discipline, or to act in righteousness even when no one else is watching, submit to His will and obey. Allow the God of heaven and earth to make you meek as the Holy Spirit trains you. Spend time with Him and trust the process because becoming a war horse isn't easy or for the faint of heart, but it's definitely the most rewarding.
Self-control doesn’t come from suppression. It comes from healing, discipline, and trust.
Strength was never meant to be wild and unruly, nor was it meant to be erased and silenced. It was meant to be governed.
That understanding matters for women who carry a lot of strength, which is nearly every woman I know. If you're learning how to manage this, coaching can help. I offer faith-based health and wellness coaching.
May 15, 2025