Good character – it’s not a phrase that is used often these days, but we would all rather be around people who have developed a strong sense of integrity, responsibility and self-sacrifice. It takes discipline and courage to develop a good character, and the lessons learned are usually small and seemingly insignificant. Be of good cheer; the lessons you learn along the way will stick with you and grow in you.
My number one character-building exercise.
I remind myself of this truth daily, if not hourly. “It’s not always all about me.”
There are some days I am compelled to mutter this Bible verse under my breath repeatedly. “Prefer one another over yourself.”(Romans 12:10)
Other Tips:
Go to church, even if it’s online due to the Pandemic.
I go to church to worship and to be with God, but I also go to church because I have something that the body of Christ needs. I am the missing piece in the puzzle. It’s not always all about my needs being met.
Christ calls us to live a sacrificial lifestyle. Sometimes, it feels like we aren’t getting anything out of church. Join me in repeating my mantra. “It’s not all about me and my needs.” We are there to worship God, strengthen our faith, and encourage those around us. At the time of this writing, in 2021, fellowshipping with other believers takes a bit more ingenuity and proactive effort on our part. Consider Zoom or other video call platforms. They are great for organising Bible Study groups. Zoom fatigue often happens when there is no purpose for the meeting, or there isn’t room for interaction within the group.
I lead a weekly Zoom call for anyone who reads my blogs; it’s a smaller group that always has room for one more. If you find yourself stagnant in your walk with the Lord, even though you are reading the Bible every day and you are listening to podcasts, it could be that you are not allowing the truth you have been receiving to pour out into the lives of others. We are called to live in a free-flowing river, and it’s not healthy to dam up that flow! Freely you have received, freely you should give! You have no idea the impact you can have in the life of someone just by smiling at them across a video screen. Contact me here if you are interested in joining us every Tuesday at 4:15 PM MDT.
“The church exists primarily for two closely correlated purposes: to worship God and to work for his kingdom in the world … The church also exists for a third purpose, which serves the other two: to encourage one another, to build one another up in faith, to pray with and for one another, to learn from one another and teach one another, and to set one another examples to follow, challenges to take up, and urgent tasks to perform. This is all part of what is known loosely as fellowship.”
― N.T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
Find ways to volunteer, even from home
Ask your local church if they need people to connect with housebound seniors, single persons living by themselves, single moms, or overworked parents who are juggling homeschooling their children while working full-time jobs.
Does your church have an official email list for emergency prayer requests? Do you have organisational skills? Volunteer to set one up.
Offer to walk your neighbour’s dog if the owners are not able to leave their homes. If your neighbour’s dog is barking more than usual, it could be a sign they need to explore their neighbourhood!
If your church meets in person, volunteer to be part of the in-between service clean up crew.
Call your church office and ask if they need help with any mundane tasks that you could do from home.
Are you crafty? Ask any teacher you know if they need help, especially remote learning educators.
Be Proactive
If you see something that needs to be taken care of, and you have the ability and authority to take care of it, take care of it! It can be as simple as spotting a discarded mask in the middle of a sidewalk, placing a plastic bag over your hand as a makeshift glove, and placing the glove in a trash receptacle. Yes, you might look like a character by doing so, but at the same time, you are developing and maintaining a godly character.
Come join me this week as we remind ourselves, “It’s not always all about me.”
“In doing what we ought, we deserve no praise because it is our duty.” Augustine
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From November 2020 forward, all Bible verses attributed to the NASB version unless otherwise indicated.
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Until Next Week,
©2021 Katherine Walden