Today’s world is all about instant gratification and pursuing your own interests, and as a result, living like a Christian is not as easy as it used to be. Well, it was never easy to begin with, but now this way of living is more complicated than ever.
Almost everything promoted by the mainstream media is in contradiction with the word of God, and this is why it’s important to know what truly matters. This is where virtues enter the game. They act as ideals or moral checkboxes and are meant to help you, as a Christian, to have an easy time when navigating this world. They guide you to do what is right.
But cultivating these virtues isn’t about striving for perfection or earning God’s favor. This is a way to surrender to the Holy Spirit’s work within us. Love, joy, and peace will have space to root into our daily lives, and the Christian virtues are opening the gates for them.
You are about to learn more about the essential virtues every believer should nurture. This is not a to-do list; we would like to see it as a map that will guide you to become more like Christ.
Brotherly kindness
This term is derived from the Greek word “Philadelphia,” and it represents the deep affection Christians are encouraged to feel toward the community. You are not alone in this world. Christians like you are found all around the world, and in a way, you are part of the same big family.
When you view it like that, unity, compassion, and mutual support are the cornerstones of any connection, and this is just the way God wants things to be. Brotherly kindness is one of the active virtues. You are here to offer time, resources, or a listening ear to those in need, which means you can do so much more than give financial and material aid. You can also offer emotional and spiritual support.
Our brothers and sisters are just like us, and this is why we should treat them the same way we would like to be treated. Never assume the worst about those around you. Better try to be quick in believing the best about our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Self-control
When you are able to manage your actions and desires, it means you can make thoughtful choices instead of acting on impulse. Of all virtues, this is one many people struggle with because considering our human nature, which is totally different from that of the Holy Spirit, doing this is not intuitive for us. We want to get what we need fast, and we tend to act on it without second-guessing. Unfortunately, this can lead us to do things God is not proud of.
Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers, is a great example of growth in self-control. In the Bible, there are countless stories where he is depicted acting quickly without thinking. Over time he learned to temper himself, and this is how he became a respected leader in the early church.
God gives us all we need to live a decent and loyal life. It is up to us to make a daily commitment to improving our self-control. We can start with eating and drinking and then follow with emotions and speech.
You should never let anger speak for you or your impulses to control your life. Taking care of all of this will help you have a fulfilling and faithful life.
Godliness
Of all virtues, this one might confuse you the most. But once you understand the meaning of it, you will be ready to embrace what it brings to you. Godliness means living a life that reflects a deep love for God.
This love is basically everything. Your relationship with the world around you is greatly improved by this. But to evaluate this love, you first have to think about your relationship with Christ. How strong is your love for Him?
Praying should be a big part of your life because this is how you grow closer to God and express your love for Him. Try to pray every day. Look at your daily routine and see if this is an important part of your day or just an occasional activity.
By concentrating on your connection with Christ, you may create a godly life that impacts how you treat others and view the world.
Goodness
This is also known as moral excellence and is one of the key virtues of Christianity. You can see this as a reflection of Jesus, who thought His life showed us what goodness is by using actions and teachings. Embracing this virtue means living with integrity, kindness, and a commitment to doing what is right.
So, what can you do? Well, you should actively seek to do actions that benefit others. This means you need to be attentive to their needs, listen to them, and offer all of your support when possible. Such actions not only uplift others but also reinforce your own moral character.
Another thing that you can do is to surround yourself with individuals who follow the same virtues. This can inspire you and motivate you to uphold the same standards.
When making decisions, evaluate if they encourage honesty, justice, and compassion. This mindful technique supports consistent ethical decision-making.
Perseverance
We all feel like giving up from time to time. When life gets tough, and the storm seems to never end, we might think, “What’s the point of trying to move forward?” But God wants you to stand still and fight with the adversities.
When you learn how to develop your perseverance, you will see that it is closely tied to self-control. Impulsive people, when they are met with difficult times, often act based on feelings. But feelings are fleeting, and this makes them unreliable.
On the other hand, your faith in God should be something stable that keeps you grounded even when the disaster hits. To be successful in your faith, you must overcome discouragement, which is something that everyone goes through. Instead of giving in to the temptation to quit your efforts, concentrate on developing resilience.
You can start by observing your life and focusing on the areas where you are more prone to give up. It could be in personal relationships, work, or spiritual practices. Try to envision those hard moments as the perfect opportunity to become stronger and also develop your faith.
Knowledge
If you want to live a fulfilling Christian life, you need practical wisdom or knowledge. To achieve this, you need to be open about it and, even more importantly, engage with the Bible. Try to integrate its messages into your daily life.
You should see the Bible as a guide for your everyday life. Meditate on its teachings and let it illuminate your path and thoughts. If you encounter any challenges and you don’t understand some passages, it is advised to seek help from other devoted Christians.
Consider the opportunity you have to submerge yourself in God’s Word. Are you devoting time to studying and understanding its teachings?
If you want to make things easier, you can use these Bible cards: Bible Verse Cards, 60 Unique, Assorted Mini Scripture Encouragement Motivational Inspirational Prayer Cards
You should also read: 7 Excuses Christians Use for Not Reading the Bible
