CHARACTER Mini-Summit Week 2

2. Don’t allow the WORLD around you to squeeze you into its own mold.

     What mask will you wear today? or tomorrow?; or even next week?  The ability to stay true to yourself and to be the man or woman God intended YOU to be takes tremendous courage, resolve, and convictions. We have all been confronted with the myriad of schedules, meetings and relationships and the ensuing chaos that follows.  It can be a lot easier to blend in and just be like everyone else.   Ask yourself some simple questions: Is it easier to be patient or impatient? Is it easier to remain calm during the storms, or panic and loose the self-control? Is it easier to fly off the handle at a spouse, friend, co-worker, or a child than it is to control your temper?

^"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

     We aren’t meant to look like the world, act like the world, and or talk like the world. Rather, we should be transformed by renewing our minds with God’s Word. II Corinthians says that in Christ we are a new creation. The old is gone the new has come (II Corinthians 5:17). We still look the same on the outside, but God said we are new creations, completely different and changed on the inside.

    Imagine a caterpillar as he turns into a butterfly – a transformation!  The butterfly doesn’t spend time at the same places that the caterpillar did; he doesn’t eat the same things the caterpillar ate; and he doesn’t hang around the same crowd that the caterpillar hung out with. In order to become that butterfly he had to “back out” of his cocoon. He backs out of some old lifestyles; He backs out of old sins; He abandons the old life!

     This is an incredible truth in scripture, not because this change comes with anything we do, but because it comes by knowing God and His word. We can experience change in life solely by renewing our minds to the truth of God's word. As a man thinks in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7). When what we think and know is God's word, then it will come out in the way we live.

     Did you know that no matter what you do to impress someone or that effort you may exert to fit in with co-workers, friends, or social groups-- at the expense of your belief system, core values, or faith -- will still never be enough in the end. For people will always want more from you and try their best to take advantage of you.

     That is why your ability to firmly fasten your life into a genuine relationship with Jesus is so vital.  Back to the butterfly example … after he comes out of the cocoon, his wings are wet and useless … he starts to breathe… deeply…and the blood begins to flow into the wings…and they become alive.

  Jesus gave His blood for YOU so that you might live – truly live. He takes you as you are. 

CHARACTER Mini-Summit

    

                                                              

      A friend once said that 'Character is on the endangered species list.'  I agree with that statement.  If you were to evaluate your life and ask yourself 'who in my life displays a Godly character without compromise?'  I would imagine the list would be short. 

     

     Reason---we are in a world where those who live in the public eye have compromised their own beliefs, their integrity, and their own families for power, greed, abundance, stature, prestige, and titles. 

     

     The current vernacular of elitism is null and void of character---let alone individuals living with a Godly character.  If the word integrity is mentioned, it is quickly blotted out by self-gratification, me-ism, entitlement belief system, or the simple issue of an over active narcissistic attitude or opinion.

            "You can't talk your way out of what you've behaved yourself into."

-Stephen R. Covey

     Behavior, or the character of our behavior, finds its origin inside one's self.  It is an internal feeding of both the heart and mind.  We cannot change from the outside in, because the outside isn’t what caused the change in the first place.  Actually, Jesus said that what has happened came from within.  He reminds us why we need to be filtering everything that we allow to take up residency in our hearts and minds in Mark 7:21-23.

      

     “For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’ “.  Mark 7:21-23

     

       Imagine what the billboard of your life resembles when it is filled with such thoughts, actions, and attitudes?

For the few next weeks, come with me on a CHARACTER Mini-Summit.  Let your senses gravitate back to the heart of God and His code of ethics.  King Solomon, the wisest person to ever have lived, said, “Here is my final advice: Honor God and obey His commands.  This is the most important thing people can do.”  (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  

     God intended His Words to be Words of Instruction on how to live. Yes, the Bible is relevant in the present day and His Word can help us to have an inner change; a character change that can guide us in sustaining a stronger walk with God.  Each week we will briefly look at an important concept.

THIS WEEK’S CONCEPT:

1.         Your THOUGHT life determines your LIFESTYLE.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

            I have found that my mind has to be regularly cleaned by allowing God to remove the trash.  I am talking about my attitude, my perception, and re-aligning my mind with better resources.  This is when I use my spiritual compass to point my mind and heart to my true north star---my Heavenly Father.  It is here where I can refill my mind with God's thoughts, God's way of handling change, God's strength for handling disappointments, and God's grace for when I have veered off my path to Him.

 

     Here is where I find an entirely new perspective of the struggles I face and a re-thinking of my thinking towards how God can teach His children that He is always there -- ready to empower us.  The following is a quote that I have personally lived by over the years, may it challenge you this week : 


 “Watch your thoughts, for they become words.  Watch your words, for they become actions.  Watch your actions, for they become habits.  Watch your for habits, they become character.  Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”     ~Tom Krause