Character Building Exercise Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor from Bethel Church in Redding, tells people that we must

build our character as we seek to increase our ability to move with the Spirit of God. We must learn to continually grow in our character so that we can HOLD the things of the Spirit that are revealed to us. Bill says that God does not hide mysteries from us, but rather he holds them for us. HE will not give us more than we can hold. If you want more of His revelation, you need to expand your character. Our character determines our ability to respond to others in unison with the Spirit. Our Nature is such that we often respond out of our unhealed flesh otherwise. The Lord wants to love and to bless others, but we cannot do this very well if we react to their personality flaws. Odds are that some of the things we most dislike in others are functioning strongly in us as well. This week please take time to examine your inner reactions. This is a character building exercise. We want to connect with the reactions within us that we have when difficulties/ challenges come to us. How do we react? Do we withdraw? Do we attack? These are normal reactions that all of us have in the face of rejection, injustice, harm to others we love or loss. As we identify our top 2 or 3 reactions, we will be seeking what the Lord wants to teach us about those. As we learn new ways to heal inside ourselves, we will know how to help others heal in their own hearts. Next week we will discuss each of these reactions, the wounds that increase these, and how inner healing and deliverance can be applied. We want to learn to respond in a Godly way rather than react out of wounding. Begin by selecting your top 2 or 3 reactions/inner messages: Dismissing I cant (refuse to) face this. I avoid confrontation; I pretend nothing is happening. Denial/detach.I cant do anything so Im just not going to care. I step back/detach . It is not my problem (harden heart). Peace at all costs.I want to fix everything now. Please dont anyone be unhappy or hurt. I can wait..I feel betrayed and/or violated as I engage in discussion with you so I step back and then look for the next opportunity to prove that my point or perspective is right. FilibusterI talk the thing to death. Isolate/withdrawI shut out the world in my turmoil.

Frustration/Anxiety..I am overwhelmed as I am stuck in broken records of unsolved stuff, I have fear and anticipation more is coming. Disappointed/Hopeless leading to depression. Theres no solution. Im disappointed and Hopeless and cant expect any more. I give up. Sometimes I feel like poor me. Angry displacement. I am mad at this but cant do anything about it so Im just mad and help it. Everyone is irritating me. Freeze dont move!...I am quickly overwhelmed and shut down. I am paralyzed and unable to choose any positive action. GuiltyI quickly feel guilt and move into self thrashing regardless of any fault. I disqualify myself from positive action. JusticeI react like a lawyer gathering evidence. I need to try the case and figure out who is right and wrong. Judge.I find someone guilty and hope for or I issue punishment.

* InvisibleMaybe if I cant be seen or heard, they wont blame me. Oh, but I want to be seen now - too lateIm stuck being invisible. Take charge!...Someone has to bring order to this mess. I will take control of whatever I can do it, or I find someone else to do it for me.

***** If there is another reaction I usually have, write it down. Once your top 2 or 3 reactions are chosen, ask God where you learned this attitude? Where did I see it practiced. What kind of results did it produce? Why did I start doing this? 1. Examine the list again. Ask Jesus which 1 to 3 of these attitudes bugs or irritates or triggers you the most (it may or may not be something you practice). 2. Ask God what would you need to know to help change these reactions into more Godly responses? What is missing that I need to react this way to problems? What do I need that I dont think I have? This is NOT to be a generic answer like I need scripture or I need prayer. Jesus will tell you something personal if you listen. Imagine someone you sincerely care for is suffering under the misunderstanding of this attitude. Ask God what might help undo it and replace it? What would Bring more trust in Jesus rather than this reaction?