To Thy Own Self and God Be True

Building and maintaining strong character is a must for every pastor. We have to set higher standards for ourselves and refuse to lower them. Plato asserted, "The first and best victory is to conquer self."

Why you ask? Because our life is a stage that everyone is watching. We live in glass churches and glass homes. On display 24/7!

Is it no wonder that some fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.

The issues are numerous and preserving your character in the midst of the ministry is a must. You will have your:

-Character criticized
-Motives microscoped (this is an intentional misspelling - for alliteration effect)
-Heart hurt
-Decisions dissected
-Angry attacks
-Blindsided betrayals
-Sarcastic stabs
-Feigned friends
-Forceful fanatics
-Dutiful deceivers
-Rigorous righteous
-Boisterous blamers
-Shifting saints
-Policy police
-Fractured family

What keeps us going after our character is assassinated and keeps us from being a character causality?

Our continued example is Jesus. He said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself" Matthew 16:24 NIV.

Building strong character requires self-discipline. Self-discipline is the ability to do what's right, when you don't feel like it and others aren’t!

The Apostle Paul knew where to concentrate his mind and how to protect his character when criticized:

Php 4:8-9 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. AMP

Thank you Lord that you are our refuge, times of refreshing, an ever present help, our comforter, and the lifter of our heads!

I love what I do and I love God’s people!