So, as mentioned before, I've been running at a somewhat superficial level for a few weeks now. Not that I haven't done any good thinking but nothing that has caused me to really reflect. Well, today my little mind has been spinning! This is where I'm going to hash out these thoughts. Keep in mind, they're not completely processed yet. These thoughts just seem to really be getting my attention, so perhaps they'll be of use to one of us.
Here goes: I frequently find myself considering God's character. Whenever I have to make a decision or I'm pondering something, I ask myself how the situation and each choice would line up with God's character. While God's specific actions may be different, he never acts outside his character.While he may not directly give me a how to for every situation, He has set a precedent through his steadfast character. I LOVE that about Him!
This made me wonder, do my words and actions portray the character that I want to have? Obviously, my words and actions display the truth of my heart (this is way too complicated a topic to try to explain, so yes, I'm generalizing, keeping in mind that sometimes our actions do not line up with our desires, see Roman 7:15 "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.")
I want to be considered a servant of God first of all, then I'd like to be seen as loyal, steadfast, diligent, helpful, loving, generous, energetic, spontaneous. When I'm thought of, I want it to be known that I follow through, I do what I say I'm gonna do, I'm not afraid to go all out for God or for anyone in need. I want others to see me making every moment count. I don't want to wake up someday and say "I wish I hadn't said no to ..."
While the list is quite long, I think they all have merit. Of course, they are not necessarily in order of importance or anything. It seems to me that our character is not defined by the big moments. It's easy to do the right thing when there's a lot on the line. It's easy to make the choice when everyone is watching or when you know it's a big deal. What really shows our character is the little things. Do I do the right thing in the small moments, when no one's watching? Do I say yes to God when no one else will ever know? Do I follow through time after time? It seems that consistency is the real revealer. God is consistent. He was, He is, and always will be. The same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In order to know that our own character has been refined, we must look for consistency.
Give it some thought. What character do you display? Is it who you want others to see?
