ATTENTIVENESS:  Showing the worth of a person by giving undivided attention to his words and emotions.  Taking time in prayer to seek God's heart and hear His still small voice.  Listening carefully in my spirit for God to lead and direct me according to His will, knowing His will must always be consistent with His Word.   

AVAILABILITY:  Being ready and prepared for whatever God may call upon me to do.  Setting God's priorities above my own.  Being at His disposal and willing to serve others as He directs.  Not filling my life with so many self-serving activities that I have little or no time to do the things most important to Him.

BOLDNESS:  Demonstrating the confidence that doing what is right will bring ultimate victory regardless of present opposition.  Having the courage to speak the truth in love.  Standing confidently as a child of God - justified, secure, and one with Christ - against Satan's attacks of temptation, shame, accusation, and condemnation.  

CAUTION:  Seeing future consequences of present actions and proceeding carefully.  Keeping myself firmly grounded in Christ and not allowing temptation to blindside me or lure me into sin unawares.    

COMPASSION:  Seeing others through the eyes of God and sensing their pain with the heart of God.  Desiring to reach each person with God's loving message and offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Investing whatever is necessary to accomplish His mission to seek and to save those who are lost.  Being focused on healing the hurts of others by my willingness to bear their pain and help meet their needs.

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS:  Being morally upright and guided by a strong sense of right and wrong.  Avoiding even the smallest compromises that could potentially lead me to sin or have the appearance of evil.  Choosing constant obedience to God in even the tiniest choices between right and wrong.  

CONTENTMENT:  Realizing - in a spirit of gratitude - that God has provided everything I need for my present happiness.  Not allowing myself to be jealous, covetous or greedy.  Sacrificing earthly pleasures, possessions, or wealth and living below my means in order to do everything possible in my lifetime to further the Kingdom of God and extend the love of Christ to a dying world.  

COURAGE:  Fulfilling my responsibilities in spite of being afraid.  Doing God's will in faith, knowing He will empower me to do whatever He asks.  Having a resolute commitment to stand for the truth, whatever the cost or consequences.

CREATIVITY:  Applying wisdom, ingenuity and practical insights to a need or task.  Maximizing the potential of my mind and imagination for solving problems and developing unique ideas and concepts.  Making the most of what God has given me to serve Him.

DECISIVENESS:  Learning to finalize difficult decisions in a timely manner and on the basis of what is right.  Having the principles of God's Word so deeply engrained in my heart that as decisions arise, I am able to act swiftly in light of what I know God would have me to do.  

DEFERENCE:  Being courteous in regard to the wishes of others, especially those in authority over me.  Limiting my freedom to speak and act in order not to offend others.

DEPENDABILITY:  Doing what I am expected even when it means personal sacrifice.  Being a faithful servant whom God can enlist in His service with confidence that I will obey His commands.

DEPENDENCE:  Living my life in complete reliance upon God, being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Dying to self, putting no confidence in the flesh, and allowing Christ to live His life through me.    

DETERMINATION:  Purposing to accomplish God-given objectives or goals regardless of the opposition or difficulty involved.  Never giving up in my lifelong struggle against sin and my pursuit of godliness. 

DILIGENCE:  Visualizing each task as a special assignment from God and using all my energies to accomplish it.  Doing all that I do "as unto the the Lord" and for the glory of God.

DISCERNMENT:  Being so familiar with the Word of God that I have a distinct  ability to know good from evil and truth from error.  Avoiding evil and if necessary exposing it.  Understanding why things happen - in light of God's Word.  Looking for God's purposes and seeking His will in all circumstances.

DISCRETION:  The ability to avoid words, actions and attitudes which could offend others or result in undesirable consequences.

DISCIPLINE:  Training myself in all areas of life to live in a manner that pleases God.  Making it my lifelong ambition to keep my body and my desires in complete submission to Him.  

ENDURANCE:  Depending upon the Lord for inward strength to withstand stress and manage what occurs in my life.  Keeping focused on Christ to continue the race He has set before me.

ENTHUSIASM:  Having a sense of excitement about life, especially in my service to God and others. 

FAIRNESS (EQUITY):  Looking at a decision from the viewpoint of each person involved.  Doing what is right.

FAITH:  Developing an unshakable confidence in God.  Trusting in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life - knowing He was God's only Son, who came to this earth as God in human flesh, lived a sinless life, died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins, and rose again on the third day.  Depending on the Holy Spirit for daily living in obedience to God.  Trusting Him for all my needs and for wisdom and guidance in every area of life.

FAITHFULNESS:  Honoring my vows, covenants, commitments and responsibilities to God, my spouse and others.  Not allowing worldly influences or selfish desires to keep me from staying true to God's Word and doing everything He has commanded me to do.  Knowing God hates immorality, adultery, and divorce, and carefully guarding against temptations that would lead me toward unfaithfulness to God, my spouse (or future spouse).

FLEXIBILITY:  Learning how to cheerfully change plans when unexpected conditions require it.

FORGIVENESS:  Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding their past offenses against them.  Giving up my right to hurt those who have hurt me.  Making certain I give no place to the devil in my life by harboring bitterness or resentment against others.  Seeing God's great mercy and grace toward me through Christ as my example of how I should treat others.

FREEDOM:  Experiencing life in Christ that is free of bondage to sin and free of condemnation.  Seeing myself as a child of God, one with the Father, crucified and risen with Christ to walk in newness of life.  Confessing my sins and experiencing God's forgiveness and power to press on in obedience and faith each day.  Knowing that sin has no power over me, and that by submitting to God and resisting the world, the flesh, and the devil - in the name of Christ, I can walk in purity and wholeness all the days of my life.

FRUITFULNESS:  The result of abiding in Christ as a branch of the true vine.  Seeing my life bear fruit as God uses me to accomplish His will and work in the lives of others.  The ability to store treasures in Heaven through selfless service to God here on earth.  

GENEROSITY:  Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to the work of God and to those in need.

GENTLENESS:  Responding to others in a soft manner with kindness, personal care, and love.

GRATITUDE:  Being thankful to God and praising Him for all His many blessings.  Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life.

HOLINESS:  Being set apart from the world as a child of God, to reflect His character and nature.  Living my life with the constant realization that a perfect and incomprehensibly holy God is always watching me, and is with me and in me, since my body is His holy temple.  Keeping myself blameless and unpolluted by the world to the best of my ability - in the power of the Holy Spirit.

HOSPITALITY:  Cheerfully sharing food, shelter and my life with those whom God places in my path.

HUMILITY:  Seeing myself as God sees me.  Having a servant's heart.  Not thinking of myself more highly than others, not proud, haughty or pretentious.

INDUSTRIOUSNESS:  Being hard-working.  Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, working heartily as unto the Lord.  Realizing that God created work as the primary means by which He will provide my needs, and understanding that work is required by God.  Finding His role for me, in the light of His Word, in my family, my church, and - especially for husbands and fathers in the God-ordained provider role - in the business or ministry God has placed me in.

INITIATIVE:  Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it.

INTEGRITY:  Being whole through Jesus Christ.  Being moral and pure in my innermost being.

JOYFULNESS:  Learning how to enjoy God and His creation as a result of living in obedience to Him.  Being pleasant and uplifting to others regardless of circumstances.  Doing all things without grumbling or complaining.

JUSTICE:  Personal responsibility to uphold that which is pure, right and true.

KINDNESS:  Relating to others with love, sympathy, and a caring spirit.

LOVE:  Having fervent devotion to God above all else - and to others, especially those in my family and in the family of God.  Offering my life to meet the needs of others, in the spirit of our Lord, and expressing God's desperate concern and care for a world that is lost in sin and eternally condemned without Christ.  Serving God and others without ulterior motives or for personal benefit.   

LOYALTY:  Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to others or to what is right.  Keeping private what others have entrusted to me in confidentiality.

MEEKNESS:  My strength under God's control.  Submitting to God and being willing to yield my personal rights and expectations for the benefit of others.

OBEDIENCE:  Fulfilling instructions so the one I am serving will be fully satisfied and pleased.  Honoring God as my ultimate authority and honoring those He has placed over me, in full submission.  Studying God's Word and seeking His will for my life.  Doing all that God has commanded me to do, and abstaining from sinful desires which war against the soul - knowing that God chastises and corrects those who are His.  Living for the day when I will meet God face to face, with the joyful expectation of hearing Him say, "Well done my good and faithful servant."    

OPTIMISM:  Believing that God has my best interest in mind, despite negative circumstances.  Looking at life positively.  Knowing I am a child of God and that no matter what happens, I will spend forever with God in Heaven.

ORDERLINESS:  Arranging my life and surroundings in consideration of those around me and with the intent of achieving maximum efficiency and productivity.

PEACEFULNESS:  The result of keeping my mind focused on God rather than problems around me.  Seeing God's hand of love and protection surrounding me at all times, so I need never worry or fear.

PATIENCE:  Accepting a difficult situation by understanding God's sovereignty.  Waiting for God to reveal His will or waiting for others, without demanding my will.  Speaking and making requests gently without being harsh or demanding. 

PERSUASIVENESS:  Using words which cause the listener's spirit to confirm that he is hearing truth.

PRAYERFULNESS:  Living in a constant state of fellowship and communion with God.  Confessing my sins as God shows them to me.  Casting all my cares upon Him.  Offering to God my praises, requests, and intercession for others with confidence, knowing that He longs to know me intimately and that the prayer of one who is right with God is powerful and effective.

PUNCTUALITY:  Showing respect for other people and the limited time they have by keeping my appointments and being on time.

PURITY:  Keeping myself undefiled by immorality or corruption.  Being unpolluted by sin and worldliness.  Asking God to make my words, thoughts, and actions acceptable and pleasing in His sight. 

PURPOSE:  Recognizing that I am an ambassador of Christ whose primary mission in life is to glorify God.  Living each day in light of eternity as a Christ-follower.  Having a fervent desire to reach the unsaved with the Gospel, make disciples, and fulfill whatever calling God has shown me through His Word or laid on my heart.  Desiring to live as a godly example, caring for my family and serving others faithfully.

RESOURCEFULNESS:  Using wisely that which others would normally overlook or discard.  Making the most of all that God has entrusted to me.

RESPECT:  Regarding and honoring others as important and valuable to God in all I say and do.  Treating others and their personal property as I would like to be treated.  

RESPONSIBILITY:  Knowing and doing what is expected of me without needing others to constantly remind me.  Fulfilling duties, obligations and whatever God has called me to do with diligence.

REVERENCE:  Learning to give honor where it is due, especially in my relationship to God.  Living my life in respectful fear and awe of God's supreme holiness.

SECURITY:  Structuring my life around what is eternal and cannot be destroyed or taken away.  Knowing I am saved forever and can never be separated from the love of God.  Being a source of strength and protection for my family and others.

SELF-CONTROL:  Bringing my thoughts, words, actions and attitudes into constant obedience.  Realizing that my body is the temple of God and no longer belongs to me.  Restraining myself from fulfilling sinful desires by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing Christ to live through me.  Setting no wicked thing before my eyes and fleeing youthful lusts and temptations.  Being careful not to hurt or offend others.

SENSITIVITY:  Understanding and sympathizing with others.  Knowing what words and actions will benefit them, especially in times of pain, sorrow, sickness, and need.

SINCERITY:  Being genuine.  Eagerness to do what is honest and right with transparent motives and a pure heart.

STEWARDSHIP:  Realizing that everything I have belongs to God.  Using the resources He has entrusted to me, including my time, talents, possessions and money, in ways that are honoring to Him.  Storing my treasures in Heaven with the knowledge that everything on earth will eventually be destroyed.

SUBMISSIVENESS:  Yielding my will to God and to those He has placed in authority over me, as unto the Lord, with a fervent spirit and a joyful heart.  Offering my body as a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable in His sight. 

TEACHABLENESS:  Realizing that my personal knowledge and wisdom is limited.  Desiring to learn as much as possible from God, His Word, and those whom God places in my life to instruct and prepare me for godly living. 

THOROUGHNESS:  Completing every task to the best of my ability, heartily as unto the Lord.

THOUGHT-CONTROL:  Keeping my heart and mind free of ungodly thoughts.  Taking every evil or condemning thought captive to the obedience of Christ and resisting the devil in Jesus' name.  Renewing my mind by meditating on the Word of God day and night.  Thinking only on things that are true and right and pure and praiseworthy. 

SINGLEMINDEDNESS:  Having such devotion to God and His will that all other alternatives seem empty and vain.  Purposing in my heart to obey God and live holy before Him.   

THRIFTINESS:  Not letting myself or others spend that which is not necessary, but rather, using as much as possible of what God has to entrusted to me to further His Kingdom.

TOLERANCE:  Learning to accept others as valuable regardless of personal differences.  Not condoning sinful behavior, but respectful of personal worth in the sight of God.

TRUTHFULNESS:  Being honest.  Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts.

TRUST:  Living in a state of complete dependence upon Christ for forgiveness and eternal life, and upon the Holy Spirit for power in godly living.  Hoping and believing for the best in those around me.

TRUSTWORTHYNESS:  Being one whom others can place full confidence and belief in as a person of honor and integrity.  

VERBAL-CONTROL:   Saying only those things which are edifying to others.  Keeping my tongue from evil speaking, profanity, gossip, slander, course joking and rage.

VIRTUE:  The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate from my life as I do what is right and follow after godliness.

WISDOM:  Learning to see and respond to life from God's perspective.  Assimilating the life-giving truths of God's Word into my heart through constant study and meditation.  Applying knowledge and lessons learned - through my experiences and the experiences of others - into my daily life.

Heavenly Father, help me each day to practice and live these character
qualities in complete dependence upon you and submission to your will
for my life.  Give me wisdom and grace to serve you faithfully.  Renew
my mind and conform me into the likeness of Your Son Jesus Christ.
I dedicate myself to You, and I ask You to make me into the man
(or woman) of God that You would have me to be.  Amen.

 
______________________________________________
Name                                                                Date



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The majority of these character qualities and descriptions are adapted from materials by the
Institute in Basic Life Principles  and  Character That Counts.
Character sketch booklets for many of these qualities are available through Character First.

 
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