Very Precious in God's Sight

but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:4 ESV

Greetings on a beautiful Sunday afternoon! I hope it's as lovely in your neck of the woods as it is in mine. I think my dog, Pearl and I will go for a walk around a nearby trail after I post this!

1 Peter 3:4 was the verse to meditate on for today's SheReadsTruth devotional. So I pondered that verse. Here's what I came up with:

What a contrast that verse is to our culture today. Even in churches, sadly! Modern day women are esteemed for being loud, speaking their minds, and acting boisterous. Being wild and crazy is a valued "quality" for today's girls. Just watch what girls get the most attention in youth groups and at schools.

Girls who have a naturally quiet spirit are viewed as shy and reserved. Sure, they are labeled "sweet" (which is good) but they sort of get swept aside. They don't get the high acclaim their noisy peers do, and are made to feel ashamed for being of the quiet type.

However, in the Bible we learn that God thinks something entirely different about these type of girls. To him, quietness and gentleness are virtues that are highly valued and viewed as "very precious"!

This particular verse isn't just targeting women who already possess gentleness solely to encourage them. It is pointing out how precious it is to God for all women to cultivate a spirit of gentleness and quietness. Not only is it precious, but it is also imperishable!

There's nothing wrong with being cheerful and outgoing. And having a quiet and gentle spirit does not mean you sit alone in a corner and do not engage in conversation. It means you conduct yourself with the regal dignity of a daughter of a King. It is time for women to start holding this virtue in high esteem! It is time for ladylike behavior to make a comeback! Possessing a gentle spirit is also something that helps women of God be set apart from women of the world.

If you see a young lady who has these virtues, acknowledge her for it. Let her know how much you value her spirit and, more importantly, how much God values it in His sight!