We will be women of character.

“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Often we wonder why we are not receiving the promotion we’ve been praying for, why every relationship we get falls apart, and why God’s open doors haven’t yet opened for us. It can be tempting to think people are holding us back, but my sister, sometimes our character is what’s holding us back. A tree is known by its fruit, and a woman is known by her character. What is character? It is how we respond when things don’t go our way. It’s what we do when she gets the promotion and the raise we were expecting to receive. It’s how we respond when co-workers talk about us, family members mistreat us, and friends turn their backs on us. Our feelings are human, but our actions and responses show our character. This is the very reason God gave us His Holy Spirit to work in us and help develop within us His godly characteristics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

My sister, God cares more about us being people with godly character than being the next famous preacher. He cares more about our godly character being developed than us receiving that shiny new car, that big house, and that fat check. So, He will delay opening the very doors we’ve been praying for until we grow and develop into a woman who can behave right, respond right, and act right. No matter how much we claim we love God, poor character can tear up a church, and it can ruin a man of God’s ministry. It can cause children to not want to have anything to do with us, and it can cause a world of hurt that only God and time can heal. Both our inner victories and our outward successes matter to God, my sister. Together, let’s continue to yield to God and let Him work in us godly character!

Prayer: Father, thank you for speaking to my heart. I hear you. I yield to your work in me. Help me desire character development more than great anointing. Help me desire a stronger love walk than great promotion. Set my affections on things above, not things on the earth. Thank you, Father, that as you bless me with excellent character, it will force doors open for me and put me in places to impact more people for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Read Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:2)