3 Reasons You Want Godly Character Part 1
When I was organizing my thoughts for this weeks discussion I realized that there was way to much to pack into one post without making it a small publication. I want to keep this in short to keep in line with the idea of making small edits. This week has been an learning experience for me in learning where the sweet spot is between giving a helpful amount of information without it being overwhelming.
So let's jump in!
This week we're going to talk about character and what it looks like for your character to be unshakeable, unbreakable, and unbeatable. And the only way for it to be all those things, is to have Godly Character.
To start us out, you need to know something. Integrity, is THE most important thing to me. This definitely aligns with being a Type 1 on the enneagram, which is all about being pure and good. When I was a child, it was very important that I was good. Good at being kind. Good at listening to directions. Good and doing what I was supposed to do. I didn't have to win, I just needed to be good.
I didn’t want to make people upset and I did everything I could to create peace in my family. To be good, in my mind, I had to ACT good. I needed to perform the correct way and I believed if I did all the right things on the outside, I'd be good on the inside and my character would follow…but that’s actually the exact opposite of how it works.
Our character and how we think, PRODUCES what we do! Our character is our mental and moral qualities and the originality of our nature. These are distinctive and unique to each of us. When we’re fully showing up 100% in our character, we are the same person in front of people as we are behind closed doors. I want to show up here on this podcast the same as if you were to see me waiting forever at the DMV, disciplining my children, or stuck in traffic. Unshakeable Character is showing up consistently as the unique YOU, God created.
There's not very many people we can look to as a guide for this. In fact, there's only ONE. Jesus. He had unshakeable character. Being fully God and fully Human obviously helped, but since as Christians, we’re supposed to be mirroring WHO He IS, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the characteristics that make his character.
In the Old Testament, God’s character was described as compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithful. Sounds similar to the New Testament's fruits of the spirit, right?! (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control). Unshakeable character is consistent throughout time and circumstances.
BUT here’s the challenge, as women we can forget WHO “We” are. We can tend to focus on everyone else ---our husband, our kids, our co-workers, our family members, the government…it can feel more comfortable focusing on WHO others are MORE than who “we” are. So, let me ask you this, do you want unshakeable Character? The type of character that is steadfast and consistent, that makes you feel confident and powerful? Ummm, I sure do, because I know what it feels like to not have unshakeable character.
There was a time in my life when my character was lacking and not aligning with WHO God made me. AND I was miserable. I was critical of myself and others, harsh in the way I spoke, too independent which led to pride, and self-centered in a specific way that I would people-please to avoid conflict because I didn't want the conflict. I agreed to do things I didn’t want to do and became resentful. I struggled with crippling anxiety throughout the day, which paralyzed me and limited what I could get done. It also became comfortable to maintain a sense of fear. More specifically, a fear of failure. So, I did what any good perfectionist would do and held myself back from opportunities that I could fail at... I didn’t take chances. I didn’t trust people…oh yah, AND This was me as a Christian!!!
On the outside you probably would have liked me and how I showed up to the world, but on the inside, I was overwhelmed, and honestly I was exhausted living like this! I felt tired a lot, because I pouring from an empty cup. Does this resonate with you?
I knew Jesus loved me, that wasn't the issue. The issue was me receiving His GRACE and also doing something about it! The process is never done. I will continually be re-reminding myself of His grace and forever developing my character to be more like Christ...which starts on the INSIDE!
So, why does this all matter??? Why is it important for you to not be just “okay” with your character right now. I’m going to be real with y'all. There is not one person that has ever been created besides Jesus that doesn’t need to actively mature their character. Thankfully, Character does not equal perfection, it means that we are consistently growing in our relationship with God, so we look more and more Like Jesus on the inside and the outside.
It’s kind of like those cute old couples that have been married forever, dress identical and walk and talk the same! They’ve literally morphed into each other because of the time they've spent together developing their relationship. We need to be that old cute couple with God, where we morph into Him.
He sees our hearts and knows our efforts. He Sees your heart right now and longs for you to actively make edits in your heart to be more like Him.
If all that wasn’t enough to convince you to work on your character, here are 3 Reasons Why Godly Character matters:
Reason 1 you want Godly Character is because it is the evidence of sincere faith
In Matthew 7:17-18, it says ” A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.”
So, take a minute and ask yourself.
What type of fruit am I producing right now with my character?
Here are some specific questions to ask yourself:
Am I calm OR anxious?
Am I accepting OR critical?
Am I joyful OR annoyed?
Am I grateful OR entitled?
These are some ideas to consider when thinking about the fruit in your life that you’re producing.
When we use words like fruit, and “giving our life to God”, we are using the Christian-ese language that is translated to making our Character like Jesus, so our outflow from the inside is honoring on the outside.
I’m going to take a bold stand and say, YOUR Character determines the trajectory of your eternity.
So, let me explain. Yes, believing in WHO Jesus is, is the first step, but it doesn’t stop there. As my wonderful campus pastor, Pastor Anthony regularly reminds our church, We must not JUST believe, but live our life in a way that points to Christ!
This activation looks differently for everyone though.
I’m learning what being activated looks like for me. And I can tell you that it Looks messy at times and feels super uncomfortable. It feels like anxiety and fear, but really it's just anticipation and uncertainty. The newer way of WHO I want to be, and the character I want to have has growing pains, but that’s okay. Both ways are hard. I just CHOOSE the hard that creates unshakeable character.
Reason # 2 you want Godly character- is because It produces hope In US and in OTHERS
In Romans it states, “And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.” HOPE will not disappoint us. Now, sometimes we don’t get what we “hoped” for, the specific way we wanted, but HAVING hope is where the power is. I want you to get this, HAVING HOPE IS WHERE THE POWER IS. Possessing it. Because with hope, no matter what happens, there is faith that God is going to come through. NO MATTER WHAT.
Godly character produces hope when we’re around other super awesome people who have Godly character, because they inspire us. And when I really work on developing Godly character-traits in myself, my HOPE is also inspired because I experience God’s power at a new level, because there’s no way I can demonstrate consistent Godly Character without supernatural power.
The fruit in our lives can produce hope in others and the hope we already have can multiply within itself and build our capacity to endure what Life throws at us.
I’d say that the discomfort of working on our character, which ultimately produces hope is worth it.
Reason # 3 you want Godly character- is because Godly character draws unbelievers to Jesus.
To summarize Matt 5:13-16, “You are the salt of the earth. And You are the light of the world.” Ya'll, it's TIME TO GET Salty & and Lit Up! Now, Not in the world’s definition, but how the Bible wants us to. Your quirkiness isn’t a surprise to God. He made you that way! Be seen, be a light! Many of us would like to stay hidden though. I know for a long time, I sure did. I liked to stay hidden in the wife, mom, and comfortable volunteer duties instead of stepping out into what God was asking of me. It took time, talking with others, and doing a lot of internal work before I realized what my salty and lit up personality was.
There is a reason you're listening to this particular podcast, it’s time to take a step in faith and show the world Who God made you. Your brand is exactly what others need to see. I won’t have the same effect on others like YOU do. If you have breath in your lungs, if you are alive, God is needing you to be Salty and Lit Up and be Seen!
Okay, here's a refresher over what I just covered about the 3 reasons you want Godly character!
It is the evidence of sincere faith
It produces hope In US and in OTHERS
It draws unbelievers to Jesus.
Building character is our responsibility. We must take the initiative to continually develop it. Check out next week's podcast and I'll cover HOW to build Godly Character! I don't want to just suggest that something should be done without equipping you with the practical strategies and simple edits to build Godly Character. I will mention that one step of building Godly Character is making your world bigger than your own thoughts and opinions. One way to do this is by regularly consuming new information, for example through a podcast. I love podcasts because they make it easy to consume anywhere like running errands, waiting for the kids at school or activities, working out, commuting, walking, or just relaxing.
The next level is to read or listen to a book. The difference between podcasts and books is that podcasts are great at dipping in and out of topics quickly, where as getting into a personal development book, you're going to dive DEEP into that information and allow your brain time to really process what it's discussing. Obviously I love podcasts, but if you're wanting to take your learning & growth to the next level but not feel the pressure, The No-Guilt book club is where it's at! Click Here to get more info about it!
Until next time, keep making those small edits in life, so you step into your potential!