How to Have Good Character

In this special excerpt, Cindy Jacobs gives tips on building character and also lends insight into some things she’s encountered over the years.

Below are some notes from our Partners-only Monthly Mentoring Session. These sessions have been recorded and you can access them by becoming a Partner today! Find out more at DougAddison.com/TimeOff

Cindy started the session by saying to have good character, you have to work on it. She mentioned Jeremiah 17:9 and said that we should examine our emotions. Sometimes envy might be creeping in. Or maybe jealousy … Maybe it’s an emotion that hits you, and maybe you’re not even entertaining it, but you need to know yourself.

You need to be willing to cast down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

Cindy said that at the end of the day, she tries to take an account. Was she loving or kind, or was she being afraid? She mentioned that she’s motivated by mercy, but sometimes she can be too merciful.

Sometimes your strength can become your stronghold. Proper mentoring will develop the character of the prophetic student.

Cindy emphasized that we have to be free from bitterness and unforgiveness. 

Unforgiveness is such a subtle thing. Cindy said she used to think she didn’t have any unforgiveness, but unforgiveness can become a thought pattern in your life. If left unchecked, unforgiveness turns into bitterness.

If you don’t know if you’re bitter, listen to yourself talk. What comes out of your mouth? Also, ask people around you. Cindy asks her daughter sometimes if she’s being defensive. Defensiveness is a sign of unforgiveness.

We have one justifier. It’s God, not us. God will defend us.  

Peter Wagner said he watched great leaders through the years, and everyone who began to get defensive and wanted to justify themselves … they always went down.

We have to let God defend us!

Are we free from a religious spirit? There are times when Cindy can look back and say, “That was so religious.” She mentioned that especially in the ‘80s, the charismatic movement could be so religious …

 Our culture, church culture and organizational culture affects us more than we might know. Sometimes the way we act because of these things is as natural as breathing. We have to work at examining these areas and things.

Cindy has been on the board of different organizations, and she realized that she was stepping on sacred cows. Sometimes this was because she was just looking over budgets. She told them they were bleeding financially in certain areas, and she challenged them on that.

We all need people in our lives who jostle us. Sometimes it can be your spouse. We all need some “sandpaper people.”

Cindy asked, “Do you have a teachable spirit? Are you open to correction? Or are you instantly defensive? Are you a good listener?”

Cindy also warned against greed creeping in. We might not call it greed sometimes, but we have to know why we are doing things.

Sometimes when Cindy is asked to speak, she has to evaluate her motives. She often feels the pressure of paying the bills, especially because their ministry has employees that need to be paid. Sometimes an invitation is God’s provision, and sometimes it’s a subtle temptation because of the money. We need to be free of these kinds of things.

InLight Connection thanks Cindy Jacobs for sharing her heart with us! 

P.S. P.S. Thank you to all of those who partner with InLight Connection and give on a regular basis. You are holding their arms up in the spirit right now, and they are truly grateful. For those who have not yet given or it’s been a while, please consider giving now (or partnering monthly) … to help, just click HERE. Becoming a Partner will give you access to the upcoming guest speaker events. These meetings are going to be POWERFUL!

Doug Addison is the founder and president of InLight Connection. Doug is a prophetic speaker, author and coach. He is known for his Daily Prophetic Words, Spirit Connection podcast and blog. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California where they are impacting the arts, entertainment and media industries.