Changing Your Character, Not Your Performance

"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." - James 5:7-11

Do you feel like the world around you is falling apart? Like you have no sense of direction and you have began to simply float through life uncared for and unaided?

Me too.

There are so many things to worry about in this life, aren't there? My job, my wife, my finances, but you know what I worry about the most? That what I'm doing today, right now isn't pleasing God. That I should be doing something profound, like healing people miraculously or speaking in tongues in front of a huge crowd. Sure, those things have there place, but we have forgotten something:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

In your household, do you treat your kids, your wife, and yourself like Jesus? Do you build up with your words and not tear down? Truly, it is the little things in life that matters (or what seems to be the little things). Do you love your Christian brothers and sisters as your should or do you gossip about them in your free time?

Be patient.

Quit being anxious about if what you are doing is for God, and make what you are doing be for God. I may be washing the dishes, but how many prayers could I offer up to God in that amount of time? And perhaps I expect my wife to repay me, forget about it.

Take these steps to change your character in life to being a steadfast Christian, and quit wishing you were one. As someone told me today,

"Nothing is hard, it's just learning to do it."

So may the community of Christians together learn to live steadfastly under the rule and love of God.

1. Add some discipline into your life. Most of the time, adding discipline in one area of your life will quickly drip into others areas and create a domino effect. Wake up early to read your Bible, start exercising, or simply sit for ten or twenty minutes to "be still and know that [He] is God."

2. Get healthy. Many people today deny the fact that physical wellbeing directly effects spiritual wellbeing. Well, it does, whether you choose to believe it or not. God created the two to be deeply intertwined and until we get a handle on our physical bodies and learn to "die to them" every day, our spiritual life will be quite difficult. Eat healthy, exercise, and go on walks.

3. Start your day with some silence. We don't like to be still and be in silence because than we are faced with ourselves (and nobody wants to sit down and think of all the wrong they did and how they can improve). In fact, we prefer to crowd our lives with noise so that we don't have to examine ourselves but can continue living in sin. So start out your day by grabbing a cup of coffee (of course), your Bible, and the peace and quiet that comes with a rising sun and be focused on God, whatever that looks like for you.

Be patient.

Blessings.