Decreasing for His Glory: The Heart of Meekness

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30 (NKJV)

When I think about meekness, one of the clearest examples that comes to mind is John the Baptist. He was bold, strong, and uncompromising. He had a following, influence, and a ministry that had people flocking to him. And yet, when Jesus stepped into the spotlight, John didn’t cling to his position or fight to hold on to his platform.

Instead, John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That’s meekness—strength under control. John knew his purpose: to point people to Jesus, not to himself. He didn’t lose any of his boldness or passion, but he willingly stepped aside so that Jesus could take center stage.

Meekness is not weakness. It’s not about being passive or timid. It’s about surrendering your will to God and trusting His plans over your own. And it’s not something that comes naturally to most of us.

So how do we develop this kind of meekness in our lives?

1. Recognize Your Place Before God
   Meekness begins with understanding who we are in light of who God is. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” You can’t develop meekness until you recognize your own spiritual poverty—that everything you have, every gift, and every blessing comes from Him.
2. Mourn Over Sin
   Meekness grows in the soil of repentance. It’s when we stop excusing or justifying sin and instead mourn over it, confessing it to God. When we see the holiness of God and the depth of our need for Him, meekness becomes the natural response.
3. Submit to God’s Plans
   Meekness is about surrender. It’s saying, “God, I trust You with my life.” Think about Abraham. He had every right to choose the best land when he and Lot separated in Genesis 13. But instead, he let Lot choose first, trusting that God would take care of him. Abraham’s meekness wasn’t weakness—it was confidence in God’s provision.
4. Take on the Yoke of Christ
   Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” A yoke connects two animals so they can pull together. And in biblical times, a younger, less experienced ox would be yoked to an older, stronger one to learn how to walk in step. That’s what Jesus invites us to do—to walk in step with Him, letting Him carry the heavy burdens and set the pace.
5. Stay Teachable
   Meekness requires a teachable spirit. Have you ever met someone who already knows everything? You can’t teach them anything because they’re not willing to listen. Meekness, on the other hand, bows before God’s Word and says, “Lord, I don’t have all the answers, but You do.” James 1:21 says, “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
6. Rely on the Holy Spirit
   Finally, meekness is not something we can produce on our own. It’s a fruit of the Spirit, as Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us. The more we walk with the Spirit, the more He molds us into the image of Christ—who is the ultimate example of meekness.

Reflection Question: Are there areas in your life where you need to step back and say, “He must increase, but I must decrease”?

Dear Lord, thank You for showing me what true meekness looks like through the life of John the Baptist and, ultimately, through Jesus. Help me to surrender my pride, my plans, and my need for control. Teach me to trust You in every situation and to walk in step with Your Spirit. May my life reflect the humility of Christ so that in everything I do, You are glorified. He must increase, but I must decrease. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Adapted from "Meekness is Not Weakness" - https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/49hzcv8/3-meekness-is-not-weakness