character vs. calling
Our character needs to be strong enough to uphold our calling.
I don’t care how charismatic your personality is, how big your ministry might be, or how many people read your blog. If underneath it all is a heart that lacks integrity, at some point, it will all come tumbling down.
Godly anointing and passionate vision simply cannot withstand the crumbling-sandcastle effect of faulty character.
We can only build as high as our foundation runs deep.
Which means I need to focus more on building my character than on clarifying my calling.
I can get extremely tunnel-visioned in seeking God about my future and my next steps. I forget that I’ve already been told the big-picture plan He has for me:
I am called to be more like Christ.
And that’s more about the character of my heart than the direction of my path.
Being more like Christ means I must decrease and allow Him to increase in me. That is the ultimate in character-building.
It means being intentional to love deeply, forgive fully, and serve wholeheartedly.
It means watching what I say, walking in humility, remaining joyful.
It means actively trusting Jesus and applying God’s Word to my life.
It means cultivating the fruit of the Spirit—All of them. Even patience.
Developing character is a whole lot harder than developing a five-year plan.
Then why do I put less thought and effort into it than I do into figuring out what my next meal’s gonna be?
Ouch.
Something’s gotta give.
And I think that something is me.
this one hugely speaks to me right now.
Isn’t that the truth.
Dang. One doesn’t matter much without the other, does it?
I should have put on a cup before reading this post. Wow. Just wow. This is one of the best things I’ve read in a long time.
@gritandglory says:
i laughed at loud at your comment. well, the “cup” part anyway!
@tamhodge says:
did you know that i consider many of your post like a …mini sermon? you speak truth well. you share and identify the depth of truth, reality like very few can. and you do it all with the backing of God. your posts are an integral part of my week. thank you for that, alece.
now…no pressure or anything. but i dont think ive shared this before with you.
and this…
“I’ve already been told the big-picture plan He has for me:
I am called to be more like Christ.”
why do i look this pivotal truth over.
@gritandglory says:
this meant so much to me, tam.
@bajanpoet says:
Agreed, Tam… she knows how to encapsulate a pivotal truth in a small space. I love that.
(Does the small space have to do with how short she is?) :) I love short people! ha!
@LindseyHartz says:
Exactly what I needed to read today, right now. I’ve been praying for desire for the Word to come back to life…..it had become a means to an end in a not so good way. I needed to be reminded that I can’t move forward at all without seeking. Thank you~
Oh my Frass… I may need to read this about 83 more times before it all sinks in… because you have so many lessons for me here. No matter how much I know what He needs is more important than what I want, no matter how much I know that my character needs to change instead of His vision… sometimes I need to hear it again.
And again.
And then maybe one more time.
@pa3cia says:
preach. touche.
Thanks Alece. “we can only build as high as our foundation runs deep” …”or it will all come tumbling down.”. I’ve seen this happen to so many people and friends gifted for ministry in the last 3 years and feel this tremendous propensity even in myself. There may be no quicker path to failure and brokenness and no temptation more present at every turn.
@gritandglory says:
it makes my heart heavy. and it makes me fearful (in a good way i think).
i can’t help but think of that verse “when you’ve done all to stand, stand…” i am never immune to falling.
(so appreciate that you commented, ken. thank you!)
@randishort says:
Thank you for the reminder Alece!
“Developing character is a whole lot harder than developing a five-year plan.” How true! When I was in Bible College one of my prof’s asked us to develop a three-year “plan.” Where did we want to be after we graduated? What ministries did we want to be a part of/develop? I don’t recall either of my prof’s asking us how we were going to continue to develop our character. In fact, I only remember two of them mentioning character as a vital part of ministry.
Then my pastor at the time who is an amazing man of God, in one of our sessions spoke to me about character. And he said “Randi… alot of us pastors struggle with our reputation. Numers are huge. How many salvations? How many baptisms? How many programs do we run during the week? How much money do we bring in? People like numbers. But… we can be doing all these things with an amazing outward apperance, have an amazing reputation, but our character… our character is all that God is concerned about. If we aren’t growing in Christ and being changed daily to look more like Him… nothing else matters. Spend more time working on your relationship with Christ and asking Him to make you more like Him – that’s what your ministry will flow out of.”
Sometimes I forget that. I need the reminder all the time.
Because as you said “We can only build as high as our foundation runs deep.”
Thank you for preaching to me tonight Alece.
Will continue to pray for you through this journey.
*hugs*
@gritandglory says:
your pastor’s got some serious wisdom!
@randishort says:
Indeed he does. Learned alot from him during the years I served with him. Miss the dude.
@XCWATERBOY says:
good post. obviously quite personal but I think it will probably hit home to a lot of people, including myself. In a few months I’m going to be a full-blown adult. Not an overseas kind of postponing “real-life” while I am a missionary and not making a lot of money adult. Just a regular adult looking for a job, school, etc etc. It’s all rather disconcerting at times. But at the end of day if I focus more on what I’m going to do rather than how I will do it I’ve already given myself a distinct disadvantage.
Wise words my friend.
IN-CREDIBLE Post! This is soooo good for real. This is something God really began dealing with me about 10 years ago but still deals with me daily! A mentor in my life told me once that until the inside looked like my outside I was merely a hypocrite. That really sucked to hear but it stuck with me. I want all that I “do” on the outside to merely be a reflection of the Son of God on the inside of me. Thanks for this post!
Youch.
“I need to focus more on building my character than on clarifying my calling”
Thank you for the gift of clarity.
@kamriereed says:
This is a very good point. God has been teaching me patience a lot lately and I hate it. I am so ready to get out there and love everyone that I neglect to learn all of these lessons that will help me in the future. I hate this learning stage but I know I am being taught to love unconditionally, to have patience and many other things. These huge lessons I know I will constantly be learning for my entire life.
@atangie says:
Your best posts are the ones that are dripping with linky love to the Good Book.
John 3:30 is written on my bathroom mirror and often I feel like scrubbing it right on off of there.
Less of me? That’s a toughie. Somedays, almost impossible……on my own.
So, I press on towards Him. With Him. Through Him. Because of Him.
I agree. It is the ‘ultimate’ in character building. Ouch is right!
Lifting you up today.
so true… i once heard it said, “Your gifts can get you where your character can’t keep you.” and then watched that play out in my life…
my five year jaunt in rural Georgia (which i affectionately call my “wilderness phase” – what IS it about Georgia!?!) was soooo much about character building. i hated it and loved it. it was painful and wonderful.
and i wouldn’t trade it for the world.
i love what God is doing in your life, in your heart, in your journey right now… in this place… at this time. :) thanks for sharing your journey with us all
@bahava says:
mmm, this is SO good. I just read it to a friend on the phone and it was one of those reminders that building my character is a big part of the reason and purpose for why I am here currently and not somewhere else…about why I need this time here in the States to continue to develop my character before running with my passions.
love you!
Dearest Alece,
LOVE this post. It is exactly what I needed to hear this morning. My home church is in the process of hiring an Associate Pastor right now and I am on the search committee, in charge of tonight’s devotional before we talk about candidates…I am going to read “character vs. calling” by Alece Ronzino :) to my committee group, because I know they need to hear your anointed words from the Spirit. Other people’s devotions have included reading works from famous Christian authors but, I much prefer sharing something about a woman I so greatly love and look up to…YOU. :) Love you. Thank you for this.
@gritandglory says:
you are so sweet! thank you for sharing this with the rest of the committee.
are you gonna be at the wedding in a few weeks???
I won’t be there, unfortunately. :( But I will be there in Spirit! I am SOOO happy for Marc and Katie. I am praying for their marriage and I wish with all my heart I could be there to give them and YOU a big hug!! XOXO…but take lots of pictures for me and put them up on the FB so I can see the beauty that will be their wedding!!
So true. That is why I know that I am to be there for my wife as she moves long in her journey. It is not an easy one for her – thus me. She grew up in a Hindu family and to even consider Christianity is hard. But it is also hard for me to stand by my faith and listen to Him when He is talking while the other ear hears anger from my wife regarding Christianity and all of its “fake people.”
All of what you wrote above is what I need to do on a daily basis in order to not push her away from God on a daily basis.
Take care,
Michael
@gritandglory says:
you are walking a hard road, michael. trusting Him to give you strength and grace for each moment.
ahhh, character. not that i never think about it, but recently i was faced with a situation that i had to step back and think about character. i wanted to react a certain way but opted to react the right way to develop my character. it wasn’t easy, i fought it hard, but i know that in the long run it will make me more of a person of character than reacting the way i wanted.
This seriously challenged me. I have been very consumed with praying about where to go and what to do…so many passions and visions I want to pursue. But I can see so many places where my character needs to develop first.
My little brother is a competitive runner, and he said that many things can go wrong in a race, and the result is ultimately in God’s hands. All he can do is put his miles in, do his training, and show up to the starting line in the best shape possible, ready to run. I feel like I’m heading for that starting line. I’m excited to see and experience what’s beyond it, but right now, I just need to focus on the self-discipline to get in all my workouts – getting to the starting line in the best shape possible.
I believe I’m finding that I can’t build my character, He has to do it for me. Or it’s another act of self-righteousness.
I heard this statement recently:
Our problem is not that we have failed. Our problem is that we have not failed enough.
~Chuck Swindoll
@gritandglory says:
ooooh that’s good, michelle. all of it!
you’re right – it’s not about striving, which i have a tendency to get caught up in. (and which then leaves me feeling guilty by all i “should” be doing but aren’t…) i need to let Him work in me. like phil. 2:13 says — “for it isGod who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” i need to move out of the way and LET Him do His thing.
and dang, that chuck swindoll quote?? i can’t get it out of my head.
Yeah, I heard that quote right when I needed it the most. And I’m finding every. single. day. as I continue to fail…His grace is amazing. Not a cliche. Total truth. And when I realize how sinful I truly am, then I know how much I must rely on Him…every. single. day.
Alece, I hope you had a very joyous Easter.
How strong the foundation of our faith is determines how much it will support us when we need it.
You have said it perfectly “If underneath it all is a heart that lacks integrity, at some point, it will all come tumbling down.”. A foundation that lacks integrity will never stand up to the challenges of life.
@tracybart says:
Great reminder! I just get stuck on the painful part of building character, the part where we sometimes walk through the refiner’s fire..that is the part where I really question how deep my foundation goes.. BUT HE has never failed me and is oh so faithful!!!
THIS is what makes me love you!
And seeing you writing this out, makes me love you all the more!
@Nomadstacey says:
It seems to me that through the process of building our character our calling will become more clear. (I’m not sure if anyone else said this since I haven’t read the comments…) But as we develop who God calls us to be: loving, joyful, patient, kind, etc. we will being to align our heart with His heart. Our calling, our vocation comes from our hearts…that deep down place that has no good word in the English language. The core of our being simultaneously holds our Saviour and our vocation. They are close. The more we become like Him and learn about Him, the more our passions coincide with His. Our calling is not an easy one. it is not a calling for the feeble hearted or the lukewarm. To be more Christ-like is to be radical, eyebrow-raising, and counter cultural. In order to withstand the temptations and ridicule the world tirelessly throws at us, we must build our character in Him. The refining process is difficult, draining, oftentimes dark. But by clinging desperately to Him, we become stronger.
I picture an iceberg when you talk about only being able to build as high as our foundation is deep. What we build, what we show the world over time, what overflows into our lives comes from our foundation..that which is under-the-water; unseen.
I really need to pray about this. I need to focus on my character and its weaknesses. As I write this it occurs to me that I should have been doing that during this time I’ve spent in the desert. (Yes, I know I’m shoulding on myself…again..). Going to mull this over at work since I’m still sans computer.
Thanks for the challenging thoughts, Mer!
I needed this reminder today. Thank you!
@coloraturajoy says:
Preach it girl.
In the middle of finding/pursuing my calling, I need to be reminded that my first and most important calling is to be like Him. That is what honors Him the most.
Thanks for the good word.
So True.
I was given an assignment from a mentor to spend sometime with Jesus to determine what character issue that God was working on in me. At the same time she asked me to think about what steps I planned to take to adjust to life in the body as I transition out of college and into the next part of the plan.
It is about who I let God make me as I go. It is about being His. I may well end up taking huge steps to another continent, but as I realized yesterday, God wants all of me. To come under His hand in the process.
Thanks Alece.
@gritandglory says:
love that practical assignment from your mentor — so good!
Her assignments are good–
I am greatful for her and her committment to see many young women be complete in Christ.
Another dagger to the heart, Alece!
Yowzers.
Thanks for kicking me in the pants.
@traceepersiko says:
This post is both encouraging and discouraging. I know my character is no where near the place of holding up my big dream,Mer. But little by little I am excited to see the growing responsibility he gives me as he and I work on my character. Dang I want good character.
@bajanpoet says:
This post hits me straight between the eyes.
Because of the pain I’m in emotionally – at times I don’t want to be reminded of this.
But God is speaking directly into my spirit with this post. Thank you for being the voice of the Lord for me… even if I don’t wanna listen.
Love you, Alece.
This is so wise. I would like to broadcast this to a lot of people but I also was trying to think how this works in my life. Good thoughts Alece.