Meek = Power
🌎 The World Before the Word
I remember sitting at the table late one night with Kati and numbers spread out.
Not catastrophic numbers.
Just tight ones.
Income projected.
Expenses estimated.
A few “what ifs” circling in the margins.
Nothing was technically wrong.
But the future felt narrow.
And I could feel my mind reaching forward — trying to solve problems that didn’t exist yet.
What if that project at work doesn’t come through?
What if the market shifts?
What if something unexpected breaks?
It wasn’t greed.
It wasn’t luxury.
It was fear of not being able to provide.
Fear of instability.
Fear of being exposed as unprepared.
Fear of not feeding my addictions.
The spreadsheet closed.
The anxiety did not— for most of my life.
The Old Reflex
The old reflex is control through projection.
Run more numbers.
Build bigger buffers.
Simulate every possible downturn.
Planning is wise.
But anxiety masquerades as wisdom when it refuses to rest.
The reflex says:
“If I calculate enough, I will be safe.”
”If I cut that out of the budget… nevermind! Netflix stays”
But the future does not yield to calculation.
And the more we grip it,
the more fragile we feel.
🌿 The new Covenant Posture
The New Covenant does not deny responsibility.
It releases illusion.
Under Romans 12:1, surrender looks like this:
I will steward what is in front of me.
I will not attempt to secure tomorrow through fear.
I will entrust what I cannot control.
I can tell you straight— that is exactly my posture on this topic!
Provision is not self-generated. It really isn’t. The most financially stable among us didn’t ever have to “work” for their wealth. They didn’t have to “earn” it. They just aligned to it.
The New Covenant posture does not eliminate spreadsheets.
It dethrones them.
You act wisely.
You refuse panic.
The difference is subtle — but decisive.
Peace enters when responsibility remains,
but control is released.
📜 The Word
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’… Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”
📖 Matthew 6:31-33
I love this verse— it’s my new “carry with me” verse.
Jesus speaks these words to a crowd living under Roman taxation and economic strain. This was not a wealthy audience. His command is not denial of need — it is redirection of trust. The story around this is a good one— you see a unique side of Jesus— look it up.
The logic is relational:
Your Father knows.
Anxiety is not provision.
Seeking first the kingdom reorders priority.
And it has for me!
“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
📖 Matthew 5:5
I titled this “Meek” initially… but after researching the word origins, I discovered it really means “Power with gentleness”. I was in error all these years thinking it was a submission word, a word of poverty. How wrong I was.
How appropriate for me now though. Jesus wasn’t saying surrender, or poverty— he was saying blessed are those that carry a sword but keep it sheathed.
Meek, from the Greek, praus (πραΰς)—is actually a "warrior’s word."
In Ancient Greece, praus was the specific term used for a wild stallion that had been tamed.
Imagine a powerful, muscular horse capable of charging into battle or kicking a man to death. When that horse was trained to respond to the slightest tug of the reins, the Greeks said that horse was "meeked."
It didn't lose its strength.
It didn't lose its spirit.
It simply gained control— and surrender!
The Definition: Meekness is "Power under control."
Ready to be disappointed? The current definition of meek, the one we have been glass lit on for most of our lives is “quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.”
“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
📖 Hebrews 4:9-11
Trust is not emotional or naive optimism… It is covenant reliance. Now that I have put aside fear and replaced it with faith, my financial anxiety naturally went with it. “Lean not” implies resisting the instinct to brace your full weight on your own calculation— or on outcomes outside of your control.
This posture I’ve taken on has taught me that stuff just works out. I’m as likely to come into money as I am to have to spend it. It all works out in the long run.
Wisdom plans while trust anchors
🤵 Pastoral Word
This is the easiest writing I’ve done since I started.
You probably think, “Well, that figures— you got it all covered.”
Hardley— I haven’t seen a paycheck in more than a year; my business has taken the back seat to my faith walk and it shows. my college kid is a Behemoth— he eats Chipotle like an Ox (👈👈 Job easter egg) and my wife still travels like a circus clown and spoils the kids. Sorry Kati, “circus” is not a word in the bible (I know, I just curated all 31000 verses in one) so no easter egg for you.
😁 (I’m soooooo not getting away with that one!)
I’ve surrendered in knowing I’ll be taken care of (if Kati doesn’t make me live on the roof) and that my purpose is much more than my bank account.
I even struggled with a big decision this week— give something of great value away to everyone for free or market it and potentially make good money? Nope— if my purpose is posture, I’ve gotta be willing to give it away.
I said it yesterday, and I’ll say it again:
It is the surrender that leads to real freedom.
🙏 Let's Pray
May your heart settle where your numbers cannot.
When tomorrow feels uncertain,
may you remember that uncertainty does not equal abandonment.
May you work diligently without carrying the weight of ultimate provision.
May your hands do what they can today —
and release what they cannot control about tomorrow.
You are not sustained by perfect forecasting.
You are sustained by a faithful Father.
Walk forward steady.
Not reckless.
Not anxious.
Simply grounded in trust.
And may that quiet trust
be your offering.
Amen
🔥 Carry this With You Today
I plan responsibly. I trust completely.