What does the Bible say about contentment?
One dictionary defines contentment as “the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied with things as they are.” Today it is rare that we find anyone who is truly content with his or her condition in life. The Bible has a great deal to say about contentment—being satisfied with what we have, who we are,…
What does the Bible say about persistence?
For the most part, the Bible presents persistence as a positive character quality. Persistence is linked closely with endurance and perseverance. Jesus praised persistence in prayer with an illustration to explain it. His parable in Luke 18:1–8 tells of a widow who was not receiving justice for her case, so she continued to pester the…
What does the Bible say about honesty?
Honesty is truthfulness. An honest person has the habit of making accurate, trustworthy statements about life, self, others and God. An honest person represents himself just as he is and tells others the truth about themselves. Honesty is not “expressing everything that goes through your mind.” That’s transparency, and a person can be honest without…
What does the Bible say about integrity?
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated “integrity” means “the condition of being without blemish, completeness, perfection, sincerity, soundness, uprightness, wholeness.” Integrity in the New Testament means “honesty and adherence to a pattern of good works.” Jesus is the perfect example of a man of integrity. After He was baptized, He went into the…
What does it mean to be devout?
To be devout simply means to be deeply dedicated to a belief or cause. Many people are obsessed with, follow closely, or are devout followers of sports teams, political figures, environmental causes, or other lifestyles and beliefs. While being devoted to certain causes may impact the world, what ultimately matters is if a person is…
What does the Bible say about being zealous / having zeal?
Zeal can be defined as “focused desire, characterized by passion and commitment.” The Bible often describes God and His followers as zealous. In the Old Testament (NIV), zeal is found 16 times and zealous 6 times; in the New Testament (NIV), zeal is found 5 times and zealous 7 times (Logos Bible Word Study). Typically,…
What does the Bible say about bravery?
Bravery is mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. Throughout Scripture, God encourages His people to be brave because He is with them (Isaiah 41:13; Luke 12:7; Revelation 2:10). The command for us to be brave or courageous usually accompanied an instruction that seemed impossible, which indicates that God knows how frail…
What does the Bible say about loyalty?
The word loyalty brings to mind a powerful sense of belonging and solidarity. With it comes the idea of wholehearted fidelity coupled with unswerving devotion and duty. In the Bible, the concept of loyalty is purely relational. This means our whole being is thoroughly committed to someone (Joshua 24:15). Such loyalty is expressed to us…
What does the Bible say about self-discipline?
Self-discipline is essentially the same as self-control, one of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. The KJV translation uses the word temperance in place of “self-control” which, like self-discipline, generally refers to our ability to control or restrain ourselves from all kinds of feelings, impulses, and desires, which includes…
What does the Bible say about knowledge?
The word knowledge in the Bible denotes an understanding, a recognition, or an acknowledgment. To “know” something is to perceive it or to be aware of it. Many times in Scripture, knowledge carries the idea of a deeper appreciation of something or a relationship with someone. The Bible is clear that the knowledge of God…