Getting to the Root of Our Problems – Part 7 | Your Character and Kingdom Purpose
We’ve taken quite the journey through the human heart. Those places we may want to hide away but God wants to rule over, transform, and use for your good and His glory.
In this final step, let us marinate in the words of Joseph, son of Jacob, as he graciously finds forgiveness in his heart for the harm his brothers planned for him.
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
—Genesis 50:20
Defining Your Character
Defining your character is not just about self-awareness; it is about spiritual awareness. The act of defining needs to be covered in covenant prayer and biblical discernment.
Prayerfully lift up these requests to God, with thanksgiving in your heart, and ask that His Spirit reveals aspects about yourself that you are blind to and that are robbing you of your inheritance.
The enemy has been studying human behavior for thousands of years. He knows where our blind spots are, and he wants to exploit them.
Come into agreement that you belong to the Lord, and you are made for a purpose. Step into that assignment and walk in victory today!
1. What is your godly strength?
How has God made you uniquely you? If this is hard for you to define, you could ask an accountability partner what they see as your strength. Or, you can use this tool HERE to discover your godly strength for yourself.
It helps to examine your personality traits and think about what comes naturally to you. What do you enjoy? These questions can get the ball rolling.
2. What is the thorn in your flesh?
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the “thorn in the flesh.” Paul had a vision of paradise. This great unveiling could have “exalted [him] above measure by the abundance of the revelations.” But to keep Him from being consumed with pride, he was “given” a thorn.
This weakness—the one thing that prevented Paul from exaltation—also prevented him from becoming arrogant. He gave thanks for the thorn. He knew God had a reason for allowing it. This is why he says it was given, like a gift. Although Satan inflicted it upon him, God permitted it for a purpose.
Defining this thorn in your flesh can help you see how God wants to use your weakness for His glory and to build your character.
3. What are you willing to die for?
This is a big question. And thankfully, most of us will not endure persecution and death like the first apostles did. But think about it. What do you stand for, no matter what? This is your number one value that God will either expose as an idol or use to further His Kingdom’s purposes.
4. How are you double-minded?
The word double-minded in Greek is dipsuchos, which means a person with two minds or souls. James uses this word to describe one who doubts and is “like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (see James 1:6 NIV).
When we are double-minded, we put on a mask and are incongruent in our thoughts, actions, beliefs, and behavior. To put it plainly, it is the way we try to cover up our sin. We do this because we are not secure with who we are. Your faith may be waning in a certain area in your life, and you “put on two minds.”
To unlock what this might mean, think about your insecurities and how you display the “best version” of yourself. Now, this is not to say you cannot or should not act differently around someone you first meet as opposed to someone you are more familiar with. The thought is to understand how you put on the mask as a way to please man rather than seeking to please God.
Refining Your Character
The Bible tells us to “…search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord.”—Lamentations 3:40.
With the above questions to prompt your thoughts and devotional time, let us again look to David’s prayer in Psalm 51.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”
—Psalm 51:3-4, 7-9
Turn those iniquities over to the Lord. They are only blocking your spiritual blessings. Once you turn them over in the Courts of Heaven to the Righteous Judge and ask for a verdict rendered in your favor—because the blood of Jesus covers your iniquities—it cuts the enemy off from a legal right to continue to bring these charges against you.
The next step is to continue to walk in the Spirit to protect your blessing and calling.
Understand that the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. He will always provide a way out of temptation.
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
—1 Corinthians 10:13
He loves you and considers you His son.
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
—Hebrews 12:6
Yielding to God’s discipline will produce the fruit of righteousness.
“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
—Hebrews 12:11
You may not see it now, but you are blessed. The purpose of the trial and temptation is to reveal your genuine, strong, and approved faith that leads you to your Kingdom purpose!
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
—James 1:12
If you are in need of encouraging prayer that can break the chains of sin, schedule your 1-on-1 prayer appointment today with one of our intercessors! We would love to come into agreement with you for your breakthrough and freedom!
Did you miss the other articles in this series? You can get caught up by clicking on the links below.
- Part 1 | Sorting Out Confusion
- Part 2 | Experiencing Temptation in Life
- Part 3 | Three Temptations of Jesus Christ
- Part 4 | Lust of the Flesh
- Part 5 | Pride of Life
- Part 6 | Lust of the Eyes
