Good Character

“Go out of your way to do what is right, speak the truth with the weight and authority that come from an honest and pure life.” (Titus 2:7 VOICE)

According to Aristotle, friendships are often based on pleasure, utility, or virtue. Relationships based on pleasure focus on mutual interests, having fun, and seeking self-gratification. When the good times end, these connections are severed. Utilitarian partnerships are based on mutual benefit. Think of work colleagues who may help advance each other’s careers. The third type of friendship is based on virtue. The bonds that hold this relationship together are mutual appreciation and respect for the core values of the other person. Being in such a relationship leads to growth and goodness for all involved. 

While friendships based on fun and usefulness are shallow and temporary, relationships based on virtue have depth and value. Experience teaches us these truths. Maturity leads us to seek out purity and emulate goodness. Being in the presence of a decent person can make us want to be better human beings. Goodness attracts goodness.  Thus, let us go out of our way to do what is right and speak truth--striving to be role models who are incorruptible and befriend those who are honorable.

Still Waters

“He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:2 ESV)

If you request water at an upscale restaurant,  the server will often ask: “sparkling or still”? Some people prefer fizzy water, while others don’t. I prefer my water to be still; carbonated water makes me feel bloated. 

The choice between sparkling or still is presented to us daily in a multitude of ways. There is no shortage of effervescent people offering scintillating opportunities. You could easily fill up your life with adventures, distractions, pleasures, and accolades. This can lead to a bloated ego and an inflated sense of self-importance. 

While anything that shimmers is seen as exciting, stillness is often confused with dullness. The impulse to pursue flashy things is hard to ignore. Yet, our souls need serenity and rest. Like a shepherd who guides his flock to green pastures and peaceful streams, the Lord communes with us in tranquil spaces. In stillness, we sense His presence, hear His whispers. Our spirit is nourished and refreshed as we listen and yield. 

“He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised.” (Psalm 23:3 GNT) 

Prayer for Discernment

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1:17 NIV)

Spirit of God, grant us wisdom and discernment to know You better 

Help us to recognize and understand your daily revelations

May Your light  flood our souls 

Show us that we are beloved, chosen, blessed, and strong in You 

Confirm our hope and trust

Make our spiritual eyes focused and clear 

So that we may grasp what You are calling us to do

Let us experience the immensity of your goodness

And allow everyone to see the full extent of Your power 

That is at work within those who trust in You. 

Sincere Faith

“Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you.” (Ephesians 1:15 NLT)

How can you tell if a person is sincere? If a mother says: “My children mean the world to me,” but then she routinely puts her own needs above those of her kids--that would not add up. Or, if a leader says: “I am the least racist person in the world,” but then he promotes intolerance and discrimination of people who are different than him--that would not ring true. Insincere people often believe in their own delusions. They feel entitled to put themselves first. They convince themselves that their actions are justified.

Genuine people are straightforward and honest. They don’t try to impress others by puffery or misrepresentation. They are transparent, not evasive. Most of all, a sincere person’s convictions and actions are congruent. Their life choices reflect who they claim to be. 

A person of sincere faith can be identified by his solid trust and outpouring of love. His choices reflect his beliefs. Christ is central in his life; everything else is peripheral. Godliness permeates his behavior. His convictions and his actions are congruent. Sincere faith is authentic and attractive. It inspires others to holiness. It encourages gratitude, stimulates joy, and awakens the Spirit within. 

Passing up Opportunities

“Don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you.” (1 Corinthians 7:30-31 MSG)

Have you ever been to an all you-can-eat buffet and filled your plate with more than you can eat? It’s hard to say no when everything in front of you looks good! Once you put something on your plate, you can’t put it back on the buffet trays. Thus, you keep adding new things but never subtracting. 

My life feels like a buffet line lately. New opportunities to be useful and productive come up daily. I have a lot on my plate already, but I keep adding more commitments without really subtracting anything. I feel physically and emotionally drained. 

The world constantly thrusts its values on all of us. Productivity and usefulness are equated with relevance. Thus, we rarely pass up opportunities that make us feel more important. Unfortunately, for every new thing we add, some existing commitment is usually pushed aside. This neglect happens whether we acknowledge it or not. Every season in life, we must reevaluate our choices, prioritize, and simplify. This might entail missing out on many pleasurable moments and passing up some worthy opportunities. 

Guard Your Heart

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23 TPT)

I used to leave my garage door open while I worked in the yard, but not anymore! One time a bird flew in; I tried to shoo it out with a long broom, but it kept flying around and pooping on everything. It took a lot of effort to get that bird out of the garage. I’ve also had a mouse creep in and make its home under the shelves. I didn’t even realize it was there until I saw the mouse droppings. After these invasions, I’ve learned to be careful. Now the garage door only opens when we pull one of the cars in or out.   

“If you would cultivate the Spirit’s acquaintance, you must get hold of your thoughts and not allow your mind to be a wilderness in which every kind of unclean beast roams and bird flies. You must have a clean heart. (A.W. Tozer)

If we want to make space for the Holy Spirit, we must guard our hearts against impure thoughts. Be careful not to leave doors open. Do not let the wild rodents and birds encroach and build their nests. Vigilantly guard your mind. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Noble Thoughts

“So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” (Philippians 4:8 TPT)  

A dehumidifier is used to remove moisture in damp areas. It works by  drawing in moist air, condensing the invisible water vapor into visible water, collecting the resulting liquid in a reservoir, and then recirculating the dry air back into the room. The process is similar to distillation in some ways, but the condensed water that is collected can only be as pure as the air that passes through the machine. If the atmosphere in the room is moldy, the water in the reservoir will also be contaminated. 

The atmosphere around us influences our ideas. Our invisible beliefs affect our visible actions. While noble thoughts can lead to virtuous choices, polluted thoughts cause corrupt behavior. When we keep our minds continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind, our life exudes grace. Thus, let us meditate on God’s glory, letting praise and thanksgiving pass through us, so that our responses reflect His goodness.