In the fitness and wellness world you have to be a “certified” professional, or you don’t work. Without credentials you don’t qualify for most positions, but what about character? Is it essential to building a successful business? Truthfully, many organizations today succeed financially without giving a thought to integrity – but ministry is different. It doesn’t matter how many certifications you obtain; without character you can’t have the necessary influence to transform others into the likeness of Christ.
Character is about who you are becoming, not your position. It’s based on qualities like honesty, authenticity and commitment. Andy Stanley calls it “moral influence” and the most valuable asset we possess. It takes years to acquire, but can be lost in an instant. Positions are defined by skills such as writing, teaching, selling, and technical expertise. Character is accrued through countless difficult choices, the refining fire of challenging circumstances, and a steadfast commitment to time alone with God in prayer and His Word.
Character is about who you are becoming, not your position.
In our busy lives where there is so much to get done, what can you do to ensure you are cultivating character? It starts with being deliberate and discerning. What process do you usually follow in making a difficult decision? Making choices can easily center around our personal needs and desires, as well as popular opinion. However, character is built in choosing what’s selfless and in line with God’s Truth as found in His Word. The next time you have a difficult decision to make, ask yourself, “What is the right thing to do?” This question has power. If we are able to get still and invite God’s voice into the conversation, we almost always know the answer. Discernment over snap decisions requires patience, dependence and faith – but the outcome is holy confidence, a mark of strong character.
The Bible is also clear that character is developed through challenging circumstances. Oftentimes we don’t have any choice but to endure with faith, hope and love. A crisis reveals our inner strength and whether or not we are partnering with Christ. How did you react the last time you faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge like losing your job – or your marriage? How did you respond the last time you were sick or injured and couldn’t exercise? Those who have committed their lives to becoming a more godly and mature person will respond to major shifts and changes with grace, ease and trust. Individuals still clinging to their own agenda of self-protection and approval will often fracture, falling into despair and even turning to unhealthy behaviors to feel better, rather than persevere to see where God is leading.
So much of character development happens in the context of our daily routines. A crisis reveals character, but the opportunities God presents us with each day hone and establish it, particularly when no one is looking. When your feet hit the ground in the morning, what attitude will you choose to start your day? When you have a 10-minute break in the waiting room, what will you read on your phone? You feel a “nudge” to call a friend who is struggling – is it worth your time? Focus daily on flexing the muscle of integrity and watch it get stronger. With practice it becomes easier and more natural to choose what’s right, versus what is merely expedient or self-serving.
When your feet hit the ground in the morning, what attitude will you choose to start your day?
Issues surrounding character usually revolve around a list of attributes found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Which of these three areas is God inviting you to go deeper? Use discernment and prayerfully consider where you are lacking character. When I was younger I would experience anxiety over attending certain business or social situations, so I would make up excuses and avoid the event.The more excuses I made, the more accountable I became to protect myself from being found out. Life also became a little lonely and mundane because I wasn’t living on purpose and moving toward the vision God ordained for my life.
When I realized what I was doing to myself and how dishonesty was beginning to define me, I asked God for the courage to follow through with showing up despite my trepidation. Soon I found myself exchanging excuses for new relationships and opportunities. Growth feels good and motivates us to accept the next challenge. Doing difficult things builds character.
However, what may indicate strong character for me is different for you. Our moral influence is developed through faithfulness to our unique core values as much as God’s defining attributes. What might be critical to stand for in my life doesn’t convict you – and that’s appropriate. God has endowed each of us with a unique purpose and therefore given us a customized moral compass. If we aren’t aware of our differences, it’s easy to judge another’s character unfairly.
Who is God asking you to become? That’s your true north. For example, one of my dad’s core values was commitment. He believed that whatever task or job he was given must completed with excellence before anything else was undertaken. He reinforced this in me throughout my childhood because he valued it as an essential mark of strong and godly character. I still struggle to finish one job before starting another because I work more organically, jumping from one project to the next as I am inspired by the Spirit. I value creativity which excludes rigidity and structure. Even so, I consider my father to be one of the most influential people in my life, and a man of exceptional character. He did everything with excellence and it reflected God’s greatness. I do everything by intuition, which reflects God’s love for freedom. What are your core values? What the are traits you believe are worth cultivating and protecting at all costs? Keep in mind that not everyone will agree.
Who is God asking YOU to become?
Developing and maintaining the kind of moral authority that attracts followers always requires courage and sacrifice. You might lose friends, a promotion, or leisure time – but the peace that surpasses all understanding is worth the price. God rewards those who place character above “success” with wisdom, a deeper connection to Himself and assurance that He has a greater purpose for your life. What is more valuable than that?
Character lasts. There is no higher credential. It deposits in others a desire to become more, not just accomplish more. Whatever vision God has given you for your life, whether building a family or a business, pursue character above all else and your success will have eternal value. People admire individuals in powerful positions, but they follow people with character.
Katie Pearson is a Senior Trainer at Holy Yoga Global and Life/Leadership Coach through the Christian Coach Institute. If you are interested in coaching or Leadership Development Training to help you become the servant leader God’s intends in your area of influence, contact Katie at katiep@holyyoga.net.
