Being a Man of Godly Character

"Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character." -Henry Clay

There are few things that truly belong to me in this world and even fewer that I will be able to take with me to the next, but character is one of them. A good man is said to be a ‘man of character’, while a man who does wrong is said to ‘lack character’, but let me make no mistake about it, every man, woman, and child has character: from the most charitable to the most despicable. Solomon noted this when he said, “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.” (Proverbs 20:11) My character is something that I cannot run away from and it is as difficult to change as the past. That is to say, its history cannot be altered, but its present and future lie entirely in the sum of my decisions. For God created character when he gave mankind free will, and now it is up to me to choose what my character will reflect. Will it reflect the love and generosity of Christ, or the evil and wickedness of Satan? I pray that it will reflect Christ.

So then, how am I to obtain a godly character reflective of Christ’s love? The answer is simple, though its application is anything but. A godly character, like all things, starts with time spent in prayer and petition. Make no mistake about it; prayer is of the utmost importance because it is the time that I spend talking to God. It’s the time that I can open my heart and listen to what He wants to tell me. Doing this develops a spirit of reflection, founded on good listening and patience. These two things, in turn, lead to wisdom and wisdom is the brickwork from which good character is constructed. So what does godly character look like? A good description can be found in Psalm, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3) In other words, my character will be just and right with God if only I keep my eyes on Christ and live my life accordingly. I’m not going to make it sound easier than it is; let there be no confusion, it is a very challenging task. But in the end, it is a task worth undertaking for the glory it reflects upon my Savior.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for another beautiful day in this world you have created. Thank you for all the beautiful and just things that exist. I pray in this day, Lord, that my character would be one of those beautiful and just things that just sings praises to your love and your mercy. I pray Lord that you would guide me in life and help me to keep on that straight and narrow path, for I know that if I do these things you will reward me greatly. Please give me the strength and the courage to be a man of faith; a man that is not afraid to stand for what is right and what you have taught me to be true. Please bless me this day and in your holy name I pray, Amen.