How can you build character?

[littlesheep15]

I've read so often that God is more interested in our character than in our giftings. How can a person build character and become a better person?

I'm particularly challenged by this personally as I am forty three and haven't worked for some time due to mental illness - I don't want to focus on the illness but it has led to a downward negative spiral.

 

[jkryle]

I've read so often that God is more interested in our character than in our giftings. How can a person build character and become a better person?

You can do that by the fruit of the Spirit. If we live by the fruit of the Spirit, we build character and become a better person.

 

[bsd31]

I've read so often that God is more interested in our character than in our giftings. How can a person build character and become a better person?

I'm particularly challenged by this personally as I am forty three and haven't worked for some time due to mental illness - I don't want to focus on the illness but it has led to a downward negative spiral.

By doing the right thing, making the right choices, judging correctly, etc, etc, etc.

Having a mental illness is no excuse. I'm diagnosed bipolar, depressed, and adhd. My character suffers or is strengthened based on what I make the choice to do. I'll never be able to chose not to have the mental diseases however I can chose to have integrity and character.

 

[DrFrank]

God is primarily concerned with our faith that then compels us to become obedient to Jesus' teachings.Once we have obtained a child-like faith and started to obey Jesus' teachings then we can pray for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.After we receive God's Holy Spirit,then both our character and behavior will be influenced directly by God through His Spirit in us.

 

[Hakan101]

I've read so often that God is more interested in our character than in our giftings. How can a person build character and become a better person?

I'm particularly challenged by this personally as I am forty three and haven't worked for some time due to mental illness - I don't want to focus on the illness but it has led to a downward negative spiral.

Yes, as Dr. Frank says, the faith is the strongest aspect of our Christianity. As your faith grows and you start to learn more truth from God, you will realize how you must change in order to be in harmony with the Lord.

If I can offer an example, I used to never do anything to help around my house. But when I began to seek more faith in God, I learned from the Word that those who take pleasure in service are truly happy and blessed (I am sorry, I cannot remember the exact verse but the message remains in my memory). So over time I began to do more things around the house to help my mother, even if I did not feel like it, I forced myself to do it, thinking "The Lord says this is good." And soon that extended from housework to things like going to the grocery store for her. In these days I jump at the chance to do something that requires my help, to the point where my mother actually tells me I am too kind and do not have to do so many things for her.

 

[Hiroyuki]

I've read so often that God is more interested in our character than in our giftings. How can a person build character and become a better person?

I'm particularly challenged by this personally as I am forty three and haven't worked for some time due to mental illness - I don't want to focus on the illness but it has led to a downward negative spiral.

Suffering ultimately builds character. "Work" is inside, like pain, a factor of the mind/heart.

You can not judge yourself. People are too complex and get too little information to do that. Though you should be able to ascertain whether you have done good or bad, so as to have assurance of salvation.

"Mental illness" is a modern term. It largely relates to psychosomatic disorders and if you believe you have incapabilities which are incurable in the mind, then you have little recourse for escape until you change your way of thinking. These are actually even more susceptible disorders then somatic/body ones because they may not even have any physical manifestation at all and can be entirely in your mind.

Even bodily disorders are influenced in this way by thinking, therefore people can be healed by belief. If you believe people can be healed, truly, you can pray and have them healed.

This does require faith and where there is no faith such things can not happen.

The gospels are real, all those things really happened.

The devil is ferocious today, last stand stuff, and I believe there is a beast system which supports the devil that forces everything and anyone to operate by the so-called principles of the material world.


Metaphorically, that is Babylon which people have to get out of.