The Who, What, and Why of Living with a Strong Moral Character
So, how’s your character?
I looked up both positive and negative character traits and discovered…
Positive traits like compassion, kindness, humility, honesty, and self-control.
And Negative traits like arrogance, rudeness, laziness, selfishness, and abrasiveness.
So those are character traits but…
What exactly is a person’s character?
The word character comes from the Greek word “χαρακτήρα”, (charaktí̱ras) and it’s defined as:
1. The mental and moral qualities which uniquely identify a person.
2. The behaviors that identify a person.
A few synonyms for the word character are – individuality, temperament, and reputation.
But I believe our characters go deeper than that because those things only describe the outward representation of a person’s character.
You see, a person’s character is only as strong as their core beliefs.
So, what do you believe?
Paul wrote:
You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13,16,22–23a
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The last verse tells us that what we believe and who we follow control our character.
This leads us to a couple of questions…
Who Needs a Strong Moral Character?
Everyone.
A strong moral character is the foundation of trust. It builds close reliable relationships. And helps us live each day with love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
Why Do We Need a Strong Moral Character?
A Strong Moral Character will help us…
1. to be our authentic selves.
2. have stronger relationships.
3. optimize our strengths and abilities.
4. enjoy greater peace and contentment.
5. be strong and courageous.
6. live out our God-given purpose.
Now that you and I have determined that good moral character is important, the last question is…
What Do We Do To Develop a Strong Moral Character?
We begin by accepting that a strong moral character doesn’t happen by accident.
If you and I want that kind of character, we need to be intentional:
- SEEK God and His Kingdom – We need to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST God.
- SEEK the TRUTH – We need to read, study, and follow His Word.
- SEEK His Help – We need to surrender to the Spirit’s guidance and walk in faith and obedience.
God’s character is perfect and unchanging. He showed us His character in and through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Word made Flesh. It is through our faith relationship with Jesus that we grow the strong moral character God desires.
For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:10–11
Today, I’m asking God to give us everything we need to live with the strong moral character that blesses us and glorifies Him.
A Prayer to Faithfully Live with
Strong Moral Character
Father, You care about my character. Your Word says You want me to grow every day and to become more like Jesus. (Ephesians 4:15, 1 John 4:17) You want me to be kind, loving, compassionate, humble, and honest. (Luke 6:36, Ephesians 4:2 & 32, Romans 12:3) You want me to have a character that glorifies You. One that inspires the people around me to know You because they see the difference You have made in me.
I know I fall short of that goal every day. I’m so sorry, Lord. Please forgive me. Please help me. I believe with your Spirit’s help, I can grow stronger as I SEEK You above everything else in my life. I believe that You keep your promises and that Your Spirit will help me KNOW You, LOVE you, and TRUST You. I believe He will give me whatever I need to obey You and LOVE people the way You want me to.
Please help me to be consistently honest so that I might be trustworthy. Make me loving and kind so that I might shine the light of Your love. Make me humble and patient so that I might manage each day’s circumstances with self-control. And by Your grace, please make me more like my Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Father, I give myself to You. Yours is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.
May we focus on Jesus and ask Him to make us people of strong moral character.
People who have…
- Integrity
- Patience
- Joy
- Self-control
People who are…
- Honest
- Consistent and Reliable
- Respectful
- Kind and Gentle
- Trustworthy
People who are trustworthy and who love like Jesus.
I think Oswald Chambers summed it all up with these words:
The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God-likeness. If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics. God’s life in us expresses itself as God’s life, not as human life trying to be godly.
May God bless us all as He guides us with His love and molds us and makes us more like Jesus.
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What a post today, Deb!
The timing of this is perfect.
The message is, too!
Thank you and blessings!
Thank you, Monday! I truly appreciate your kindness. God bless you!
A person who models God’s character is an inspiration in this broken and fallen world, Deb.
Blessings!
Oh, if we all would love like Jesus! Thanks, Martha! Blessings to you, as well! Have a wonderful weekend!
May I strive daily for these kinds of fruit in my life, given through the Holy Spirit. Thanks Deb.
Amen, Marilyn! I’m praying that for myself as well. God be with you and bless you!
Amen! May we be people of strong character, representing our heavenly Father well in this world. Thanks for sharing. Many blessings to you!
Thanks for visiting and joining the conversation, Boma! God bless you!
Deb I hurting today from physical sickness but with Your Loving words it let’s Me know the Holy Spirit will heal Me and help You Deb have a blessed day. Thank You Sincerely Robert
Praying you’re feeling much better, Robert. God bless you!
You just put into words Deb the very thoughts and feelings I’ve been wrestling with. During these times I look around me and see every believer with deeply rooted faith then look at myself and feeling even more despondent for my flagging, limping faith. Then I read your blog and everything turned bright again…. I’m not the only one with these problems, and struggles. It’s so nice to share, to learn from each other. From the hurdles that we cleared, the help we received from the Lord…and facing the problems ahead of us. But not alone anymore.
I love Oswald Chambers. This quote always have been very dear to my heart – “He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist you with all His Almighty power.”
Oswald Chambers
Blessings dear Deb
I love that quote, Gaby! You have no idea how much my family needed it right now.
It’s so easy to compare our faith to others but remember, we are comparing the pages of our story to the cover of theirs. We’re always comparing our private thoughts to their public persona. Only God knows our hearts. I’m working hard to simply keep my focus on Jesus. That Chambers’ quote is really going to help. Thanks again. God bless you!
Hallelujah my dear friend ????????????.
Thanks so much, Gaby!
Deb, God has truly blessed each of US with you and your writings. You will never know how many people you have helped. I am going through a relationship storm now. I have lost my soulmate and the love of my life. However, I still have God and each morning your writings, which assist in getting me through the day. God Bless you Deb. Good day.
Oh, Michael, thank you for your kind words. I’m glad that the Lord is using this space to bless and encourage you. We are praying for you . . . asking the Lord to hold you close, to bless you, and guide you along the path He has prepared for you. Blessings!