Developing Godly Character.

• A child, with a love for God, should be the ultimate goal of every parent for his or her children.
• Learning and developing the character of Jesus, in the hearts and lives of our children, is the most wonderful life gift we can impart.
• The development of Godly character, which leads to Godly actions, begins with training the hearts and minds of your children.
• God sets before us a standard of Godliness, by which each person may measure themselves.
• God develops our character, with the latitude to exercise one’s uniqueness and individuality.
• Each year we should teach our children the 60 character traits of Jesus.

How do you instill these characteristics into the fiber of your children’s beings?  

One of the best ways to develop these traits is to develop character habits, through positive reinforcement.

The ACE program I follow does this amazingly well, by incorporating stories of fictional Godly children, within their program.

• The two main characters of these cartoons and stories exemplify the character traits of Jesus.
• These characters grow up and mature, each year, along with the students.
• The learner has Godly character traits reinforced, by following the age appropriate stories, centered around these child characters.
• My children absolutely love their fictional friends, which often leads to happy class discussions, about their friends’ adventures and the way they deal with life’s challenges.

• I know that my children will be learning the 60 Godly character traits, every year, for the twelve years that they attend school.
• This is how I shall be playing my part in developing Godly characteristics within my children.
• By helping my children develop Godly ways, I shall be determining and guiding them towards their future relationships, their spiritual well-being and their general sense of fulfillment in life.
• Through these ongoing teachings, I shall reach my long term goal of instilling, within my children’s hearts, a passion to continue to learn and grow spiritually.
• In turn this will make a vast difference to the lives of those around them.  

‘Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life such as yours, this earth would be God’s paradise’. Phillip Brooks

The very first step is to teach one’s child to know a God whom they cannot see… As getting to know God is a lifetime’s occupation, begin by teaching your children to notice the evidence of God in the world around them.

This can be done by showing God to your children, through nature. God created the world, so show them His beauty in the miracle of nature all around them.  

Fruit of His Spirit…

The Spirit of God is defined through the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ which is outlined in Scripture. There is one fruit with 9 flavours…

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control

These ‘flavours’ need to become the behavioural goals for everyone in our home, as our children learn and absorb through our examples. Don’t just tell your children what to do, -demonstrate it -and live it!

‘The fruit of the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’.  Galatians 5 v 22-23.

1. Love.

An open and wholesome show of affection is a sure path to the development of a loving nature. Teach your children to give others the appropriate loving touch like a pat on the back or a hug. Emphasize the importance of reaching out to people even when they are undesirable or showing their worst.

‘A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and……Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man’. Matthew 8; 2-3.

2. Joy.

We need to teach our children to find joy in all circumstances and to enjoy life to it’s fullest. Often small things produce big joys! Just the habit of saying ‘good morning’ to others bears joy.  

‘Joy is God’s Spirit bubbling forth from within…’ Anna Grace.

‘Joy is magnified when shared.’ Tim Hansel.

3. Peace.

One consistent habit of a peacemaker is taking the initiative in-reconciliation. Lead by example and train your child to make immediate amends for upsets in relationships, -asking and extending forgiveness, without hesitation. Humility, also, has a lasting and effective impression of peace upon young hearts.

4. Patience.

The most challenging habit to cultivate!  Assist your children in developing this skill by teaching them to wait quietly and cheerfully, in whatever circumstances they find themselves. Practice a yielding calmness in your character. (Don’t erupt and don’t give up!) Your children will learn from your example. The key to contented living is patience…

5. Kindness.

Teach your children to do acts of kindness to others. Open their eyes to those around them. Help them to show kindness, even to those they don’t particularly like, -as an act of love. We may not always like others, but we are called to love them.

6. Goodness.

Nurture the habits of honesty, a dependable work ethic and uprightness of character. Don’t allow the white lies to go unnoticed and make your children finish what they have started. Instill a sense of achievement, when even the simplest of tasks are achieved.

7. Faithfulness.

A child’s capacity for loyalty is directly proportionate to the faithfulness of his or her parents. Set an uncompromising example in all your commitments, from your relationship with God, your spouse, your family, the church, your community and friends -and the children’s’ education.

‘A lie has speed, but truth has endurance’. Edgar John.

8. Gentleness.

Cultivate tenderness and sensitivity in your children, by showing them the needs and heartaches of all those around them, whatever their station in life.

‘Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to me…’ Matthew 25 v 40.

9. Self-Control.

Model a cheerful and respectful approach to the routine matters of life, from health to chores etc. Teach your children to delay gratification. They also need the discernment and control to be selective in their choice of entertainment, recreation, and friends.

Good habits and Godly character are mutually dependent. One is the cause and the other effect, and visa versa.

• ‘Watch your thoughts; they become words.
• Watch your words; they become actions.
• Watch your actions; they become habits.
• Watch your habits; they become character.
• Watch your character: they become destiny.’ Frank Outlaw.

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22;6 (NIV)

Prayer: Heavenly Father fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit and help me to be led by Your Holy Spirit today.  Help me to exhibit the fruit of Your Spirit in everything I say and do. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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