Character

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8

Character is defined by the dictionary as moral or ethical quality (a man of fine, honorable character) or the qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity.  Basically character is what defines the way you live your life, your actions, your reactions, your decision making criteria.  A biblical definition of character may be defined as any behavior or activity that reflects the character of God.  Just like the Bible verse above says God calls us to dwell on whatever is honorable, right, pure and lovely. When we fill our minds and hearts with these things, we soak it up like a sponge.  It saturates our being and it becomes easier to be honorable, pure and make the best choices.  Good character is not something you are born with.  It is learned and then it becomes a choice.

Charles Swindoll said in Living Above the Level of Mediocrity:

THE WORLD NEEDS MEN...
who cannot be bought;
whose word is their bond;
who put character above wealth;
who possess opinions and a will;
who are larger than their vocations;
who do not hesitate to take chances;
who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
who will make no compromise with wrong;
whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
who will not say they do it “because everybody else does it";
who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."

This was some 1985 guidance about determining the character of a man from Good Housekeeping:

Six ways to learn everything you ever need to know about a man before you decide to marry him: 1) watch him drive in heavy traffic. 2) Play tennis with him. 3) Listen to him talk to his mother when he doesn't know you're listening. 4) See how he treats those who serve him (waiters, maids). 5) Notice what he's willing to spend his money to buy. 6) Look at his friends. And if you still can't make up your mind, then look at his shoes. A man who keeps his shoes in good repair generally tends to the rest of his life too.  Lois Wyse, Good Housekeeping, April 1985

Maybe the final step is to look at the soles of a man.  Even better, check out his soul.  Character is built from a real, vital relationship and commitment to Christ as LORD.  Good Character is the harvest resulting from planting the right seed.  It is the fruit of our relationship with God.  It is the good that overflows from a heart full of Christ.  Keep your mind on things above and not on things of the earth this week.  Try dwelling on Him and His word and see if it becomes engrained on your heart and mind.  That is where character is born.

Scripture to Claim:
“…And to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.” Psalm 71:17b-18