Building Character – Today is National Spouses Day

Building Character 

(Today is National Spouses Day)

Romans 5:3

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

What is character? What kind of character would you want your children to have? What kind of character would you want your spouse to have? And what kind of character would your spouse want you to have?

Stephen Covey says, “Our character is basically a composite of our habits. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character.”

Jim Rohn writes, “Character isn’t something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints. It’s something you weren’t born with and must take responsibility for forming.” In other words, we can’t thank or blame anyone for our character. It begins with us and ends with us. Period. So is your character what you really desire it to be?

Ruth Ellen and I married on August 28, 1976. We arrived in Chattanooga on August 29 so I could begin my pastoral studies at Tennessee Temple University. We were in Chattanooga for the next three years and one month.

The most important class we took in those three years and one month was a class in CHARACTER BUILDING. It was a time of character building for both of us as a new family. We were separated by seven hours from our relatives at home. We were on our own. That was actually a blessing, because it gave us opportunity to work on who we wanted to be without outside interference. During those three years we established our values together. We DELIBERATELY chose to build our lives around Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and God will take care of everything else.”

We have stayed with that same commitment for the last forty-six years. Some people start out in the middle of the road but keep going from the white line on the far left to the white line on the far right and sometimes even leave the road entirely. I am proud to say we have never done that. We have stayed in the middle of the road. Forty-six years in the middle of the road. I wish I could say that we are special people with awesome skills but that is not true for us. We are quite ordinary. Our successes in life can be traced to one item: We have stayed with our commitment of forty-six years ago. And, in so doing, God has built a biblical character in each of our lives.

It is never too late to work on building your character. The Holy Spirit is willing and able to help!

We will dig deeper into “Building Character” in tomorrow’s devotional.

Tom Swartzwelder

Sep 4, 2024 – On September 3, 2024, Tom Swartzwelder completed the race that God had set before him. He is now with Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith.’

 Hebrews 12:1-2A

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles

 He provides practical how-to-do-ministry resources for the disciples of Jesus Christ at http://www.godsgreenhouse.net. Tom’s latest book is “God Speaks–Today!”

Image by DEEPAI