Development Of The Character (Fruits Of The Spirit)
Decisions build daily habits. Daily habits build a destiny. Therefore, the quality of our characters is determined by our decisions. Greatness is in the reach of all men, for all men are able to decide. Success requires courage and protocol, not a genius.
Love and passions are necessary ingredients to unleash the uncommon faith, and yet, faith is the only thing God responds to. The outcome is guaranteed if our deeds are fueled by faith that stems from love and passion.
"Walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7
"And when Jesus came into the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yes, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your FAITH be it unto you, And their eyes were opened" Matthew 9:27-30
Faith is what moves oneself into the consciousness of the miraculous. It is the mountain mover.
"Faith in God helps us to look past the mountains, no matter how big they seem." 2 Corinthians 5:6
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20
Faith itself is unavoidable. We either have faith in ourselves and God or faith in fears and troubles. I hold it true that faith is the Kickstarter of a change and one of nine so-called "Fruits of the Spirit".
The character will not be complete unless it reaches master levels in all spectrums. A somewhat ridiculous comparison would be a car that has a powerful engine, but weak transmission, poor wheels, and a frame designed for slow cruises. All parts of Formula 1 cars correspond with each other, and together, they create the racing machine. The same theory is applicable to the human character, which is defined by its spirit. The character does not define the spirit. The spirit defines character. Qualities of the spirit are visible through physical deeds we call "character". Therefore, to develop character, one must develop and ascend the spirit.
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own." 1 Corinthians 6:19
We are spirits, not physical bodies, therefore, to become greater, we must focus on the spiritual plane of our existence, rather than the physical. The mind is the bridge between supernatural (spiritual) and natural (physical).
Excuse me, please, if this is bothering you, but you have to possess understanding before starting the development journey. It is an endless road. A man is either developing an ascending or deteriorating and degrading. Stagnation doesn't exist.
Therefore, the journey starts with the first fruit of the spirit, which is FAITH.
The second fruit is JOY, our God-given compass. Some people participate in doings that make them sick. Somehow they expect to reach joy by being miserable.
"The joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
Sometimes we simply can't abandon our projects, works, and education to participate in something that makes us radiate joy, but we can dedicate our lives to reach those levels. The easiest way to discover your purpose in life is by asking yourself "What makes me joyful?". Keep in mind sometimes people change, and certain professions or hobbies stop fulfilling them. For example, I had a passion for aircraft, but after a few years of working with them, it became boring, and I felt as my life is incomplete. I had to move on, so I did.
The third fruit is LOVE. What comes through you sticks to you. Nobody says you should be loving the people that want to harm you, if there are such people, instead, wake up the love force you possessed as a young spirit before the world adulterated you. There is surely someone you love. There is surely something you love. And btw, you've gotta love yourself. Once all of your self-imposed limits dissolve and you re-discover your greatness, you'll love yourself, and God for making you marvelous.
The fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth fruits have to be practiced and nourished combined. In fact, they work together and are branches of the same tree. Those fruits are PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL.
Now, what you want to do is act in faith, follow the joy and love. But each and every day, take one of the remaining six fruits and practice them. For instance, today, take self-control, and the next time someone or something triggers you and stirs up your emotions, remain under the self-control. Do not fly off the handle! Lifeworks in mysterious ways. I had big issues with the lack of self-control. Then, I started playing poker, and there were two options. Option "A", allow yourself to lack self-control and lose money, or "B" start controlling yourself and don't lose money.
You'd be surprised to know that self-control was built very fast.
Then, the next day, take another fruit, for example, patience!
Is there something you've been trying to achieve for a while, yet, unsuccessfully? Have you felt inside as you're losing patience for it? Has it caused emotional disturbance? Take control over it, today, by deciding to remain patient, and I'd add, persistent.
"If you remain still, God will fight your battles." Exodus 14:14
"Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is a misfortune," but "To bear this worthily is good fortune." Marcus Aurelius
"You have the power over your mind." Marcus Aurelius
"The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Remain steadfast and one day you will build something that endures: something worthy of your potential." Epictetus
Once you develop a habit of being the best you can be, it will become your destiny, for as I said, decisions build habits, and habits build one's destiny. This technique worked for me and saved my life. It may help you, immensely. Remember, the journey starts with faith and ends with God.
