“…you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds;
you put on the new man, the one created according to
God’s (likeness) in righteousness and purity of truth.”
– Ephesians 4:23-24

There is an ongoing debate in our nation about the issue of leadership and character. In the realm of politics, it appears that if the polls and the economy are good, then character doesn’t matter. As coaches however, most of us adhere to the idea that good character is essential to good leadership. The debate is real, so what’s the answer? Speaking at a conference, former Oklahoma congressman J. C. Watts asked his audience some interesting questions. “How many of you wives think the character of your husband is important?” Every hand in the room went up. Then he asked, “How many of you husbands think the character of your wife is important?” Again, one hundred percent of the hands were raised. “Then tell me the character of our leaders is not important!” Watts said, “You can no more have leadership without character than you can have water without the wet.”

When we decide to live our lives for Jesus, we don’t become perfect, but there should be a dramatic change! Our old way of life is in the past. As believers, we are transformed and take on a new nature. We put our old ways behind us like old clothes being thrown away. When we decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation, it’s both a one-time decision and a daily commitment. We are not driven by desire and impulse. We put on a new nature, head in a new direction and have a new way of thinking that comes from the Holy Spirit. Being men and women of character is a key ingredient of this glorious transformation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for changing my life. Thank you for the opportunity to positively impact lives. Help me embrace this challenge today and be a coach of character. Amen.