Meekness and Temperance

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..."
Galatians 5:22, 23

Meekness:
The word "meekness" comes from the Greek word prautes. Which means that you depict the attitude or demeanor of a person who is forbearing, patient, and slow to respond in anger; one who remains in control of himself in the face if insults or injuries. So a meek person is one is controlled by kindness, gentleness, mildness, or even friendliness.

When you hear the word meek what comes into your head? A person who is shy, soft-spoken, of even weak?
If a person is meek it means that they are a strong-willed person who has learned to submit his will to a higher authority. He is not weak, but controlled. This person has their own opinion, but has decided to wait until he is spoken to or until the correct time comes to calmly, but firmly state their side.
So when the Holy Spirit is producing Meekness inside of you, you are a controlled person. Even the most difficult of circumstances.
So take a moment to evaluate yourself. How do you respond to insults, injuries, or difficult situations? Do you react quickly and rashly? Or do you respond with meekness and self-control?
The flesh would love for you to act our of hand, to yell and go out of control. But when meekness is produced inside of you by the Holy Spirit, you will be calm and controlled. You will impart peace into other's lives and situations where, before that, were unsettling and unstable.

Temperance:
Temperance is the last fruit. Temperance comes from the Greek word kratos, which means power.
A lot of people think if temperance and meekness as the same thing, but it's not. Meekness has to do with the attitude or demeanor of a person who can control his actions and emotions. But temperance means that you are in control and that you have power over yourself; on other words, self-control.

A meek individual can control his attitude, but a person with temperance has power over his appetites, physical urges, passions, and desires. Because the Holy Spirit has produced temperance in your life, you are able to say no to overeating, no to overindulging in fleshly activities, not to any excesses in the physical realm. A person with temperance maintains a life of moderation and control. Thus, temperance could also mean, restraint, moderation, discipline, balance, temperance, or self-control.

You can how opposite temperance is the works of the flesh. If you allow the flesh to have its own way, you will over-worry, overwork, overindulge, and literally run yourself to death. But if you allow your life to be ruled by the fruits of the Spirit, that you will discipline over the physical realm. You will have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control (temperance).
Take a look at your life today. Are you allowing the fruits of the Spirit to blossom in your life?