Bettering Your Character with Spiritual Self-Improvement

You are typically known by your character and reputation. When people speak of you or your reputation, what do they say? Are you someone they can trust? Are you reliable? Do you stand up for those who have no voice when you see injustice? These character traits influence not only how the world sees us but how we see ourselves. When you align your character with Christ, you will see a natural boost in your confidence and self-esteem. Following God leads to self-improvement.

Character matters in self-improvement.

Being righteous and honest extends into every area of your life. When you are honest, upstanding, loyal, compassionate, kind, and loving behind closed doors in your personal life, you are more likely to exhibit these traits to the public. Although some people lead a different life in private, God knows the heart and sees everything.

God wants you to display His traits all the time. To accomplish this, you must grow into a godly character.

Tips for building your character.

Have you ever known someone who could not be trusted? Maybe this person believed they were outside of the rules. They may have cheated on their spouse, demanded too much from their employees, or broken the law.

They acted impulsively and, sometimes, violently. You could not believe anything this person said, and there seemed to be a motive behind every one of their actions. If they did something good for someone, they wanted something in return.

This example shows that we are not born with good character. Childhood experiences and perceptions can take us down another path. However, we have the power through Christ to reorient ourselves. This is where spiritual self-improvement becomes a conscious choice.

Face your trials and challenges.

Trials and challenges, as unwelcome as they may appear, can build our character and boost our spiritual self-improvement. Looking back over hurtful times, how do you view that season? Do you remember the times God delivered you?

Did you see a correlation between your obedience to God and deliverance? God can take a bad situation or experience and turn it around for your good. Likewise, He can use your enemies to bless you.

Ask God to help you with self-improvement.

Often, we leave God out of the equation. We might believe we can do it independently, then find ourselves neck-deep in trouble and stress, leaning toward taking shortcuts. Instead of turning to God last, consider consulting Him first.

Ask Him for wisdom and guidance. God may give you a sudden idea or bring a wiser person into your life. He may fill you with a supernatural peace that passes understanding if He wants you to let go and rest in Him while He works unseen in the background.

Stay honest.

God will never lie to you. You may find the truth painful at times. Truth and honesty can turn your life upside down like a sudden earthquake, but God will always be there to pick you up out of the rubble. There will be times when it seems easier to tell a little lie than to be honest. But remaining honest through trials will serve to strengthen your integrity. Keep promises to yourself and others.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. – Proverbs 11:3, NIV

Teach others to follow Christ by example.

Newer Christians need someone to model the behavior relevant to their lives. If you are modeling after Jesus and making the Bible relevant to your life, you can guide newer Christians. You want to lead by Jesus’ example and not be easily influenced by your sinful nature or other people. This takes obedience and studying God’s Word to know what pleases Him.

Be the change in the world.

When you display a godly character in your private and public life, you can change the world. By standing up for people who have no voice or calling out injustice, despite the hate you may receive from the world at large, you become a catalyst for change. Jesus was the catalyst. He turned the law based on the Old Testament Scriptures on its head and gave us an example of what we should do to further God’s kingdom.

Get spiritual guidance when you need it.

Spiritual self-improvement draws you closer to God. You must follow Jesus’ example to build godly character. If you need help, do not hesitate to ask for it. Reach out to a Christian counselor at Mansfield Christian Counseling in Texas today who can help get you back on track. It is never too late to allow God to guide your life.